“Our nation’s harbors and inland waterways are vital to the success of the equipment manufacturing industry, the agriculture sector, and all sectors of the U.S. economy,” said Dennis Slater, president of AEM. “Today’s passage of this important bill by the House of Representatives takes Congress one step closer to providing the funds necessary to maintain and upgrade crucial water infrastructure projects that keep our economy moving. We strongly encourage lawmakers to continue to work together to pass infrastructure legislation that will help reclaim America’s infrastructure advantage.”

WRDA (H.R. 7575) will specifically allow for the appropriation of additional funds from the existing Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Balance, authorizes construction on 34 pending Chief’s Reports projects, authorizes an additional 35 feasibility studies while working to expedite another 41 underway, modifies the cost share for inland waterways projects to 65 percent from the general treasury and 35 percent from the inland waterways trust fund from 50/50 until 2027 among other provisions. Nearly 80 percent of traded goods that Americans rely on is moved through our nation’s ports, harbors, and inland waterways according to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.