Posted on December 12, 2022
House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) released the following statement after the House passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA) as a part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (NDAA):
“As a longtime champion of coastal restoration and flood protection, I am happy to see many of the priorities I fought for included in the final Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that we passed in the House of Representatives today.
“Importantly, language I negotiated to authorize critical maintenance for the levee system protecting the Greater New Orleans area and additional hurricane protection for Grand Isle got included in the bill, providing for the continued safety of families and businesses. This bill will better prepare our communities for future storms and protect the lives and livelihoods of families and communities throughout Southeast Louisiana,” said Whip Scalise.
“This WRDA will be more valuable to the sustainability of our coast than any other such bill in over a decade. It not only clarifies roles and funding responsibilities for long-standing commitments to coastal protection and restoration, but also initiates new projects and policies that will provide major benefits to communities in Louisiana. I commend our entire federal Congressional delegation for their outstanding efforts,” said CPRA Board Chairman Chip Kline.
Background:
The Water Resources Development Act of 2022 includes a number of provisions that benefit flood and hurricane protection projects in Louisiana’s First Congressional District, including:
- Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity (LPV), Louisiana Hurricane Protection Project Authorization Extension – Extends the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ authority to allow the Corps to perform levee maintenance to address subsidence and ensure maximum protection.
- LPV Levee Maintenance Authorization – Authorizes $950 million for the Corps to conduct LPV levee maintenance to provide for continued maximum protection.
- LPV Feasibility Study Authorization – Authorizes a feasibility study for the Corps to examine increasing the level of protection of LPV to a 200-year level of protection.
- Environmental Infrastructure Assistance Reauthorization – Authorizes planning, engineering, and design assistance for stormwater drainage for St. Charles, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines Parishes.
- Grand Isle and Vicinity, Beach Erosion and Hurricane Protection Project – Report language that authorizes the Corps to repair or restore the Grand Isle and Vicinity, Beach Erosion and Hurricane Protection Project beyond its original design level, including the ability to construct additional breakwaters.
- Port Fourchon Belle Pass Channel Deepening Project – Report language that authorizes the Corps to work with Port Fourchon to approve the Port’s beneficial use-dredged material plan to deepen the channel to 30 feet.
- Pointe Celeste Pump Station – Report language that authorizes the Corps to repair or replace the Pointe Celeste pump station in Plaquemines Parish.
- Transfer Payments Authorization Extension – Extends the ability of non-federal sponsors to transfer payments from one authorized project towards the balance of another authorized project.
- Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study Authorization – Authorizes the Corps to conduct this study at full federal expense.
