Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-OK) recently stated that he expects Congress to pass the 2016 Water Resources Development Act by mid-July. The large water resources and infrastructure bill is a priority for both Inhofe and EPW Committee ranking member Barbara Boxer, both of whom will step down from their committee leadership positions at the end of the year. Half of the bill is dedicated to water system testing and infrastructure improvements for small and disadvantaged communities.
The Senate EPW bill, S.2848, which would authorize about $9 billion in Army Corps of Engineers projects for navigation, flood control and environmental restoration, passed out of Committee by a vote of 19-1 last month. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has yet to unveil its version of WRDA, which Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) has described as a "pamphlet" bill and is light on policy initiatives. A House committee mark-up is tentatively scheduled for May 25, 2016.