(Washington, DC) – Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) announced final House passage of H.R. 7575, the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA), a bipartisan bill that would invest in Houston’s water infrastructure and improve flood protection projects in the Houston region and across the country.

As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Congresswoman Fletcher secured authorization for the Port of Houston Expansion Channel Improvement Project in the bill.  She also added several key priorities for the Houston region in WRDA, including a new federal study to uncover gaps in flood management coordination between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other agencies; and increasing the federal share of local natural infrastructure projects designed to increase resiliency.   

“The Water Resources Development Act of 2020 is some of the most important authorizing legislation we consider in Congress, investing in some of the most transformative infrastructure projects in Houston and across the country,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “I was glad to work with a bipartisan coalition to secure the authorization of the Port of Houston Expansion Channel, one of our country’s most important assets, in this bill.  As a whole, WRDA delivers on our promise to modernize our nation’s infrastructure and make our communities more resilient.”  

This year’s WRDA legislation continues the bipartisan tradition of moving a new Water Resources Development Act every two years to respond to local water resource needs and to ensure continued Congressional oversight over the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).  It authorizes the construction of all 34 pending USACE Chief’s Reports and 35 feasibility studies, and it directs the USACE to complete five comprehensive river basin studies and to expedite the completion of 42 feasibility studies currently underway.  H.R. 7575 also reforms the process for the development of future USACE projects with a goal to make projects more resilient and affordable to rural and economically disadvantaged communities.