December 20, 2024

Merkley, Wyden: Critical Water Infrastructure Bill Headed to the President’s Desk

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that critical projects and policy initiatives for Oregon included in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024 have passed Congress and now head to the president’s desk to be signed into law. Their authorization sets the stage for Oregon to secure essential water infrastructure funding.

“Water is the lifeblood of our state. Updating and modernizing aging water infrastructure – including ports, levees, dams and much more – will better prepare Oregonians and their communities for droughts and floods, and give them access to safe, reliable drinking water,” said Merkley, who helped write the bill as a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “This critical bill is indispensable to waterways across Oregon and ensures water infrastructure is maintained and improved for generations to come.”

“Oregon’s ports, harbors, waterways and more generate jobs statewide that are a must to keep our economy flowing,” Wyden said. “All of that vital infrastructure requires investments just like these to keep it modern, safe and effective so Oregonians can count on clean drinking water and reliable transport of goods.”

WRDA 2024 includes several projects and policy initiatives in Oregon including:

  • Port of Portland Dredging Vessel: Includes authority to replace the Dredge Oregon vessel at the Port of Portland.
  • Oregon Statewide Environmental Infrastructure Authority: Authorizes $200 million in funding for water infrastructure efforts across Oregon such as water conservation projects, ecosystem restoration projects, stormwater management, surface water protection, and environmental restoration.
  • Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Projects: Includes a technical correction regarding CTUIR projects in the Walla Walla River.
  • Columbia and Willamette River Pile Dike Maintenance Definition Clarification: Clarifies and directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Portland District to maintain the pile dikes in the Lower Columbia River.
  • Harmful Algal Bloom Demonstration Program (HAB) for Willamette River: Authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ HAB Demonstration Program—which occurs when certain environmental conditions intensify algae growth and harm ecosystems and human health—to include a focus on the Willamette River.
  • Study on Microplastic Pollution: Requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prepare a report to identify measures that could be implemented to reduce the release of microplastics associated with the Corps’ civil works mission into the environment.
  • Aquatic Invasive Species Cost-Share Program Cost-Share Modification: Modifies the cost-share percentage for the federal program to help state, Tribal, and university partners meet the needed cost-share requirement.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Funding Capability Report: Authorizes a report on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers capability versus Annual Funding in each Army Corps District.
  • Funding for Emerging Harbors: Includes language allowing for additional uses of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for activities at emerging harbors.

Additionally, WRDA 2024 included the reauthorization of the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to:

  • Expand EDA Public Works scope and funding to include climate chaos mitigation.
  • Authorize the facilitation of high-speed broadband connectivity, including community infrastructure, as an eligible use of EDA funds.
  • Expand EDA’s Economic Adjustment Assistance program to include the natural resource sector.
  • Require a federal report on EDA Regulations and Policies that includes recommendations to improve the administration and timely disbursement of EDA grants, including better communication with grantees on fund disbursement timelines.
  • Authorize predevelopment work as an eligible expense to assist smaller localities with the grant-seeking and grant-making process.
  • Create an Office of Tribal Economic Development within the EDA to coordinate all Tribal economic development activities and efforts with other Federal agencies, help Tribal communities access economic development assistance programs, and participate in any negotiated rulemaking or consultations on projects, programs, or funding benefiting Tribal communities.