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CONGRESSMAN BISHOP WORKS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO GEORGIA WATER RESOURCES

October 24, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) worked to improve access to Georgia water resources by supporting the bipartisan passage of H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRDA). The legislation includes provisions authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to start work on the $652 million Savannah Harbor Expansion Project which will deepen 30 miles of the Savannah River to improve shipping access to the Savannah Harbor.

“In addition to improving access to critical waterways, this bill will create jobs and boost our economy by opening access to vital infrastructure projects across the country,” said Congressman Bishop. “The Savannah Port will be a major driver of economic development throughout the entire state. Dredging of the Savannah River is long overdue, and once this bill is enacted into law, larger cargo ships will be one step closer to traveling and trading through our world-class port.”

H.R. 3080 authorizes the construction of 23 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water resource related projects; establishes new processes for water selection, permitting, and project deauthorization; encourages non-federal participation in developing water infrastructure by establishing a pilot program for private-public partnerships; and other measures.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water resource related projects include the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project with an estimated federal cost of $461 million and an estimated non-federal cost of $201 million. The bill passed the House 417 to 3. The United States Senate approved its own version of the legislation on May 15, 2013 by a vote of 83 to 14.