Rep. Schrier Votes to Pass Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Bill that Includes 8th District Priorities

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) lauded House passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), a water infrastructure bill that Congress passes every two years. This year’s bill included the opportunity for members to submit local infrastructure priorities for consideration and several 8^th District projects were selected. The bill passed the House 384-37.

“I am thrilled that several of our district’s priorities were included in this year’s WRDA, but this is the beginning, not the end. I will work with my colleagues to make sure there is funding included in future spending bills for these important water infrastructure projects,” said Rep. Schrier. “If funded, these projects will help cities in the 8^th district improve drinking water and wastewater systems to keep residents healthy and safe.”

This year’s WRDA included U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assistance to municipalities for their water infrastructure projects. The next step is for the projects selected in WRDA to receive funding in House appropriations bill.

8^th District projects included in WRDA:

• Water supply project feasibility study, City of North Bend
• Ecosystem restoration project feasibility study, Taneum Creek
• Water infrastructure project funding authorization:
  • $3,000,000 for water and wastewater infrastructure in the city of Bonney Lake
  • $3,000,000 for wastewater infrastructure and stormwater management in the city of Ellensburg
  • $30,000,000 for wastewater infrastructure, including stormwater management, in the city of North Bend
• $200 million for planning, design, and construction assistance on water infrastructure projects, including drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater to Washington state counties including Chelan, King, Kittitas, and Pierce counties
  • Will allow for 75%/25% federal cost-share for projects and the ability for smaller communities to leverage the expertise of the Army Corps of Engineers in improving their water infrastructure

Additionally, part of Rep. Schrier’s bill, the 21^st Century Dams Act, was included directing the Corps to inventory and investigate opportunities to restore natural floodplains and to identify antiquated dams for rehabilitation or removal. Language was also included to move Howard A. Hanson Dam Additional Water Storage Project forward, a multi-phase habitat restoration and flood mitigation effort. Completing fish passage at the facility would reopen at least 60 miles of prime salmon and steelhead habitat above Howard Hanson Dam, nearly doubling the amount of habitat currently available.