Articles

 Tonight, Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) voted in favor of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), H.R.3080, which passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 413 to 3. WRRDA continues the necessary improvements to critical infrastructure, including repairing and strengthening aging canals, dams and ports. 

The United States Constitution expressly authorizes Congress to regulate commerce and promote trade and travel. The building and maintenance of the nation's infrastructure is therefore a core constitutional responsibility of the federal government.

The successful bill includes language Rep. Gosar promoted and sponsored that would allow important projects like the Lower Santa Cruz River Project to be funded by private sector and local government contributions, thus ensuring this project has a better chance to go forward as it circumvents bureaucratic red tape. This means non-federal partners can invest in much needed water infrastructure. It is an important reform.

Rep. Gosar said, ”Don’t be fooled by our vast deserts. Waterways, dams and ports support 15,160 jobs in Arizona and directly contribute $1.2 billion to our economy. It is no understatement to say that our waterways are key to commerce and our standard of living in Arizona. Smart investment in water resources is critical to our economic competitiveness. This bill cuts red tape and reduces bureaucracy, all while making the necessary investments in water infrastructure to maintain America’s competitive edge."

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