The following is a statement by Mark W. Woodson, P.E., L.S., D,WRE, F.ASCE, president of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) on the Senate’s passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (WRDA; S.2848) in a 95-3 vote on Thursday, September 15:

“The Water Resources Development Act is an important bill for our economy, public health, safety, and environmental resources. By authorizing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects and improvements to ports, inland harbors, waterways, dams, and flood control systems, this legislation will allow for critical improvements to our nation’s infrastructure. As civil engineers, we thank the Senate for passing this comprehensive legislation. Now it is time for the House of Representatives to follow suit – to do its job and move their bill (H.R.5303) to the floor.

“WRDA addresses so many of the challenges facing our nation’s infrastructure, including flooding, dam safety, Flint’s drinking water, and freight movement via water-borne transportation. Given that the United States’ ailing infrastructure costs each American family $9 a day, this is the kind of leadership and legislation we need to change the trajectory of our underinvestment. By maintaining a two-year cycle for WRDA, Congress can ensure project and program efficiency and moderate costs, avoiding costly project delays that would further add to our country’s already significant backlog of infrastructure projects.”