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Representative Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) today signed on as a co-sponsor of WRRDA, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 (H.R. 3080). WRRDA is bipartisan water resources reform legislation that cuts federal red tape and bureaucracy, streamlines the infrastructure project delivery process, promotes fiscal responsibility, and strengthens our water transportation networks to promote America’s competitiveness, prosperity, and economic growth. The bill was marked up and passed by the full Transportation & Infrastructure Committee yesterday and will now be sent to the floor of the House of Representatives.

“WRRDA will streamline water infrastructure projects, eliminate cumbersome bureaucracy that’s standing in the way of getting major water projects off of the ground and strengthen our transportation networks,” said Rep. Denham. “This will be the first major water reform in years and will keep the United States competitive with other nations also working to strengthen their infrastructures, helping our economy to thrive.”

H.R. 3080 was introduced in the House by Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Committee Ranking Member Nick J. Rahall, II (D-WV), Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Bob Gibbs (R-OH), and Subcommittee Ranking Member Tim Bishop (D-NY).

WRRDA is used to authorize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, enabling the Corps to support the nation’s vital port and waterways infrastructure needs. Under WRRDA, the Corps also supports effective and targeted flood protection and environmental restoration projects across the country. This kind of authorization legislation has not been signed into law since 2007, though historically such a bill has been passed every two years. WRRDA provides direction to the Administration and to the Corps.

More information, including legislative text and background information is available here