The quest for the first major water-resources bill in six years has cleared a key hurdle with House passage of an $8.2-billion measure that would authorize 23 new Corps of Engineers water projects, speed their regulatory reviews and boost funds for dredging.
The House's 417-3 vote on Oct. 23 clears the way for negotiations between that chamber and the Senate, which passed its Water Resources Development Act, or WRDA, in May. Amy Larson, National Waterways Conference president, says, "I think both chambers really would like to see a WRDA bill, so I think there'll be a willingness to find a middle ground." Steve Hall, American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) vice president for government affairs, says, "We are guardedly optimistic."