New Legislation to Strengthen Mississippi Waterways Infrastructure

U.S. Senator Thad Cochran yesterday praised passage of a Senate bill that provides important flood control and waterways infrastructure for Mississippi that the President’s budget sought to eliminate.

The FY2017 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill was approved, 90-8, on Thursday.

The bill funds U.S. Department of Energy programs and critical infrastructure projects administered by the Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation. The bill also funds the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) and Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), which serve the Magnolia State.

“The severe storms and flooding in Mississippi early this year validates the need to maintain funding levels for the Corps of Engineers. Protecting the public and the economic benefits of our harbors and waterways is important, and this Senate bill addresses these challenges in a responsible way,” said Cochran.

The bill provides $368 million in Corps of Engineers funding for the Mississippi River and Tributaries program, $146 million over the budget request.

Among other things, the funding increase will support channel improvements, harbor dredging, levees and flood control work that was either underfunded in the budget or not included at all.