Mississippi’s Water Infrastructure Priorities Advance in Biennial Congressional Legislation

WASHINGTON - Members of Congress have been negotiating biennial legislation, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which directs water-related projects across the country. U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., has a unique position to advocate for and advance Mississippi's water infrastructure priorities as a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works which negotiates and drafts the bill.

The committee recently advanced the legislation, and it passed the full U.S. Senate. If it is signed into law, waterway, port, river system, dredging, and flood protection projects across Mississippi would see improvements.

Senator Wicker released the following statement.

"This bill gives us the opportunity to provide clean drinking water, wastewater, and flood control solutions for communities across Mississippi. I will continue using my position on the Environment and Public Works Committee to deliver the water infrastructure solutions that our state needs," Senator Wicker said.

Among other policies that would benefit Mississippi, WRDA would:

• Authorize Section 219 environmental infrastructure in four Mississippi communities. Those funds and communities include:
• • $7 million for a new water tank and wastewater collection system for Byram.
  • $7 million for stormwater and drainage improvements for Hancock County.
  • $7 million for wastewater treatment system improvements for Madison.
  • $7 million for drinking water and wastewater improvements for Pearl.
• Increase authorized funding for Section 219 environmental infrastructure by $14 million in five Mississippi communities for:
• • a comprehensive stormwater management program for Rankin County.
  • a regional wastewater program for DeSoto County.
  • wastewater infrastructure improvements for Jackson.
  • a comprehensive water management program for Madison County.
  • the Meridian Multi-phase Evaluation and Rehabilitation Water Program for Meridian.
• Authorize $44 million in federal funding for flood risk management and aquatic ecosystem restoration in North DeSoto County.
• • In recent years, flooding has damaged businesses, residential homes, and other infrastructure in Desoto County.
• Address dredging needs on the Tenn-Tom to ensure continued navigation at locks and dams.
• Decrease the non-federal cost share from 20 to 10 percent for economically distressed communities. The bill also allows the Assistant Secretary for Civil Works to further adjust the cost share based on a community's ability to pay.
• Expedite competition of the Hatchie-Loosahatchie River floodplain management study.
• • Flooding from the Hatchie River has impacted roads, farmers, private landowners, and bridges. It also has caused several levee breaks.
• Establish the Levee System Owners Advisory Board, which would advise on activities and actions by the Corps to improve flood risk management and improve cooperation and communication between the Corps and the Federal levee system owner-operators.
• Require a report on the existing Levee Safety Guidelines to ensure they remain voluntary.
• Authorize the Corps to conduct research with Mississippi State University on technology that could be used in water resources development infrastructure, analyses of the environment before and after a natural disaster, and geospatial data collection.