The Senate overwhelmingly has approved a major new water-resources measure that would authorize more than $12 billion in new Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects, launch a new federal loan program for Corps and Environmental Protection Agency projects and mandate faster Corps project reviews.

The Senate passed the Water Resources Reform and Development Act, or WRRDA, on May 22 by a 91-7 vote. That represented the final congressional action on the bill, which next will go to the White House for President Obama's expected signature.