Ayotte Votes to Advance Water Resources Bill

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte today voted to advance the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) (S. 2848), which authorizes water infrastructure projects across the country and contains important New Hampshire provisions.

"Our ports and waterways, like Portsmouth Harbor, play an important role in maintaining New Hampshire and our nation's economy, and this legislation will help facilitate critical updates to that infrastructure," said Senator Ayotte. "The bill also takes steps to preserve and protect our environment through rehabilitation projects throughout the country, and additionally includes provisions that will help support water infrastructure in New Hampshire."

In June, Ayotte joined a group of Republican senators led by Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-OK) in calling on Senate Republican leadership to bring WRDA up for a vote before adjourning for the summer state work period, writing that WRDA "contains substantive reforms and authorizations that prepare our nation to compete in the global marketplace, strengthen protections for coastal and inland communities from disastrous floodwaters, modernize Corps policy to ensure efficient and effective project delivery, and create mechanisms to provide affordable clean water and safe drinking water infrastructure."

Among its authorizations for projects across the country, WRDA allows for a final feasibility study for Portsmouth Harbor and Piscataqua River in New Hampshire and Maine, as well as provides a five-year extension for the current authorization for the Cape Arundel Disposal Site in Maine to be used as a location for the deposit of dredged materials.

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