Washington, DC – Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22) today acted to invest in our ports, channels, locks, flood protection and critical infrastructure that supports our waterways transportation systems. Olson voted for H.R. 8, the Water Resources Development Act, which authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers civil works activities. Olson also successfully included a critical amendment that asks the Army Corps of Engineers to expedite already authorized projects within declared disaster areas in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. H.R. 8 passed the House by a vote of 408-2 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.
“The Houston region was devastated by Hurricane Harvey,” Rep. Pete Olson said. “These Army Corps projects are crucial to our recovery efforts and future flood mitigation. This bill allows us to maintain and improve the critical infrastructure that is essential to protecting our communities and strengthen economic growth and maritime trade at the Port of Houston. I thank my House colleagues for supporting both my amendment and this bill. I urge the Senate to act quickly as well so the necessary recovery and flood protection work can begin.”
Highlights of H.R. 3249Highlights of H.R. 8
- Allows Congress to regularly authorize improvements to our ports, inland waterways, locks, dams, flood protection and other critical water resources infrastructure
- Authorizes locally driven but national vital improvements carried out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Olson Amendment – which asks the Army Corps of Engineers to expedite already authorized projects within declared disaster areas in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
- McCaul Amendment – to help expedite Army Corps studies for Houston and Coastal Texas
- Babin Amendment – which expresses the sense of Congress stating the importance and benefits of projects to improve 2-way traffic safety on high volume, deep draft navigation channels