Rokita: Water Infrastructure Reform Bill a "Win for Greater Lafayette"

Press Release

Rep. Todd Rokita released the following statement after helping to lead passage of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), H.R. 3080, which makes major reforms to the national water-way infrastructure authorization process. H.R. 3080 simplifies the process for Congress to authorize waterway infrastructure studies and projects like the ongoing efforts to address erosion of the Wabash River in Greater Lafayette. Now, private nonfederal projects, like the Wabash River Enhancement Corporation (WREC), have a more direct avenue to make their case for federal assistance. These reforms also allow the use of funds from non-federal interests, like WREC, to expedite the processing of permits within the regulatory program of the Corps of Engineers. The bill passed with s overwhelming bipartisan support 417-3.

"This legislation is a win for the Greater Lafayette community, as well as any Hoosier who enjoys the Wabash River. I have been fighting to give the Greater Lafayette community a fair shake when it comes to important infrastructure and development projects like this. These reforms will eliminate old, incomplete, and wasteful projects to make room for projects like the Wabash River to move forward, while improving congressional oversight of water resource development projects." said Rokita.

Response to the WRRDA legislation from key figures in the Wabash River development has been positive.

"I thank Rep. Todd Rokita for his leadership on this legislation and his support of Greater Lafayette. The Wabash River development is the most significant opportunity in our community to improve quality of life for both sides of the river and Tippecanoe County. From an economic development standpoint, completing this project will significantly elevate the quality of life in this community." -- Joe Seaman, President of Greater Lafayette Commerce

"The Wabash River Enhancement Corporation (WREC) has been working closely with Fourth District Congressman Rokita and his staff to enhance the Wabash River Corridor in Tippecanoe County for the past four years and together we have experienced the frustration resulting from congressional inaction in addressing water resource issues, and the almost insurmountable layers of bureaucracy in place related to initiating Wabash River Corridor Enhancement projects such as planning and feasibility studies and actual construction projects.

"The new House WRRDA Bill effectively addresses these issues and puts in place new procedural mechanisms that will enable WREC and its community partners to move forward in a timely manner with implementing its corridor master plans to address ecosystem restoration, riverine erosion and bank stabilization issues that currently, significantly impair water quality, increase flooding risk, and harm the river ecosystem. Enhancing the Wabash River Corridor is a key component of our local, state and federal economic development goal to grow the bio-life science and high technology sector of our economy.

"WREC and its community partners strongly support and thank Congressman Rokita for his work on our behalf and for his strong support of this House WRRDA Bill." -- Stanton Lambert, Executive Director of WREC

WRRDA is the authorization by Congress for key missions of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This includes developing, maintaining, and supporting the Nation's economically vital waterway infrastructure and supporting effective and targeted flood protection and environmental restoration needs.

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