The Water Resources Development Act of 2020 authorizes mission areas for projects on navigation, flood damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction, shoreline protection and ecosystem restoration, according to a release from U.S. Rep. Conor Lambs office.

A bipartisan bill was passed Wednesday that authorizes water resource projects with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the next two years.

The Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (HR 7575) authorizes mission areas for projects on navigation, flood damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction, shoreline protection and ecosystem restoration, according to a release from U.S. Rep. Conor Lambs office.

As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Lamb, D-17, Mount Lebanon, supported the legislation, which passed with broad bipartisan support, the release said.

Lamb co-led a bipartisan letter with Rep. Brian Babin of Texas in April, which was signed by 78 members, including many from Pennsylvanias congressional delegation.

The letter advocated for an adjustment to the cost-share for inland navigation projects, which was included in the bill. The policy change lays the groundwork for faster repairs to western Pennsylvanias locks and dams. Three inland navigation facilities in the Upper Ohio Navigation Project the Emsworth, Dashields and Montgomery locks and dams are at risk of failure, the release said.

"This legislation is a major investment in jobs and infrastructure for our region. We can finally rebuild our aging locks and dams system to protect and grow thousands of energy and manufacturing jobs in western Pa.," Lamb said in a release. "This bill also ensures that we are better prepared for increased flooding and protects clean drinking water."

In an additional letter to committee leadership, Lamb fought for provisions that were included in HR 7575, to raise the funding authorization threshold for the Corps of Engineers to address widespread problems specifically in rural and small communities pertaining to inadequate wastewater treatment, contaminated drinking water and insufficient water supply.

The bill also allows for Beaver County to access the funds for the first time, the release said.

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Lamb announces bipartisan bill for water resource projects - Ellwood City Ledger