America's Water Infrastructure

Floor Speech

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Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, as the Presiding Officer knows, President Trump has called on Congress to take up major infrastructure legislation. Passing an infrastructure bill would create jobs, grow our economy, and help keep families safe. Water infrastructure is a key part of the President's call.

Drinking water systems, dams, levees, ports, reservoirs, and waste water systems matter to just about every community in the country. Infrastructure is an essential part of everyday life. Infrastructure brings water into our homes and protects us from flooding caused by catastrophic storms, like the one we had this past week on the east coast.

Many of these aging water systems are in need of significant attention. Several need to be repaired or fully replaced, while other, long-awaited projects need to get started. The time to upgrade our water infrastructure is now.

Last week, committee leaders from the Senate and the House of Representatives reached a deal of historic proportion on comprehensive water infrastructure legislation--now passed in the House and awaiting passage in the Senate. The name of the consensus bill is ``America's Water Infrastructure Act.'' As the chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I worked closely with Ranking Member Carper, Infrastructure Subcommittee Chairman Inhofe, and Subcommittee Ranking Member Cardin to reach this deal with the House. This is by far the most significant water infrastructure bill of this Congress and the most significant water infrastructure bill in decades. It is bipartisan, and it helps all 50 States.

The legislation does three big things: It grows the economy, it cuts Washington redtape, and it keeps communities safe. America's Water Infrastructure Act spurs economic growth by creating jobs and authorizing vital projects. This bill authorizes projects that deepen nationally significant ports, maintain inland shipping lanes, upgrade aging dams, and increase water storage in the arid West. These projects ensure that American-made goods can be shipped from the heartland to the coast and around the world.

Access to a consistent water supply is key for America's ranchers and farmers. They expect that their water will be delivered when they need it. Ranchers and farmers will directly benefit from this legislation, as crumbling irrigation systems will receive badly needed maintenance.

In my home State of Wyoming and across the West, water storage is a serious issue. This consensus bill will increase storage capacity and expand water reservoirs, such as the Fontenelle Reservoir in Wyoming.

The legislation cuts redtape by making it easier to get projects through the Army Corps of Engineers' process. It will give State and local leaders an increased role in prioritizing which Army Corps projects are built. When a local partner takes over an Army Corps of Engineers flood control project, that non-Federal partner will no longer need to worry about obtaining new permits. The bill mandates that the Army Corps transfer its authority to the local partner so new permits--and the time required to get them--will no longer be necessary.

We have also included important language to help smaller rural communities leverage Federal dollars so they can complete needed infrastructure projects. Leveraging Federal resources is an important component of President Trump's infrastructure plan. Federal programs, such as the Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act, can give taxpayers the most bang for the buck. In the past, smaller rural communities have had trouble accessing these dollars. The language in our consensus bill will give these rural areas the chance to compete for these funds and be able to participate in this very successful program. Cutting redtape and increasing access to leveraging programs will help us get projects done faster, better, cheaper, and smarter.

Finally, the bipartisan agreement will help keep communities safe. The critical infrastructure projects included in this package will help prevent damaging flood waters by maintaining dams, levees, and beach fronts. It will also create a permanent program to prevent floods caused by ice jams like we saw in Worland, WY.

The legislation allows the Army Corps of Engineers to more effectively assist communities recovering from devastating storms and surging rivers.

This bill isn't just about flood prevention. It is the most significant drinking water legislation in decades. This bill invests in repairing aging drinking water systems. For the first time since 1996, Congress will authorize the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds. These funds give States certainty that they can meet their drinking water needs.

The bill is also fiscally responsible. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said America's Water Infrastructure Act will authorize these important projects and reduce the deficit at the same time. America's Water Infrastructure Act has received broad bipartisan support from Democrats, Republicans, local governments, and stakeholders. It originally passed out of the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee unanimously, by a vote of 21 to 0. After reaching this consensus agreement, the House of Representatives passed the updated bill unanimously by voice vote. Simply put, America's Water Infrastructure Act is good for the entire Nation.

President Trump called on Congress to pass major infrastructure legislation. America's Water Infrastructure Act answers that call. By reaching this bipartisan agreement, my home State of Wyoming and the Nation will see upgrades, reforms, and new initiatives that deliver on the President's commitment to rebuild our aging water system. Now is the time for the Senate to take up this important bill and send it to the President for his signature.

Thank you.

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