House Passes Landmark Graves’ Water, Flood Priorities

House Passes Landmark Graves' Water, Flood Priorities

Major water resources bill vital to Louisiana

U.S. Congressman Garret Graves (Louisiana) announced today the significant Louisiana victories he authored in S. 4367, the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), which passed today in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill is expected to pass the Senate shortly and will be headed to the president for his signature.

"Most of the United States - and two Canadian provinces - drain through Louisiana. Nearly one-third of the Corps of Engineers' authorized funding is for Louisiana projects. Louisiana is a big deal to the United States, and WRDA is a big deal to Louisiana," said Graves. "The wins in this bill protect Louisiana's people and our way of life. The wins break down bureaucratic log jams that put our people at risk. The wins advance protection where there currently is none. As I've said, we're running through the tape to secure more wins for Louisiana - even if we have to run on water."

Several of Graves' key provisions are included in the final legislation:

Louisiana Project Improvements

1. Creates a new parish-wide flood protection program for Livingston Parish<_u93a_p>
2. Clarifies the terms of loan repayment for post-Katrina infrastructure: Graves' provision streamlines the loan repayment process. In 2020, Graves saved the state over $1 billion in interest payments on federal loans for the West Bank and Vicinity, Southeast Louisiana, and Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity Projects. Graves recently announced that another component of his provision will save Orleans and Jefferson Parishes $63 million. Money saved means more funds for protection and restoration, while also protecting the state's fisc. <_u93a_p>
3. Upper Barataria Risk Reduction System: Following up on Graves' WRDA 2022 legislation to authorize this protection project, Graves' WRDA 2024 provision directs the Corps to expedite completion of the project, as is a provision to evaluate connecting Upper Barataria with the adjacent Morganza-to-the-Gulf project. Graves ensured the authorization of the project in WDRA 2022 and worked to provide $8 million in federal funding in 2022 for pre-engineering and design. This will result in hurricane and flood protection from Lafourche and St. Charles to Ascension Parishes.<_u93a_p>
4. Bayou Sorrel Lock Reevaluation: This federal lock complex in Iberville Parish is not able to handle the waterway traffic that makes Louisiana's ports thrive. Graves previously secured a 100% federal cost share for the project and provided the project with its first slug of federal funding last year, in addition to requesting that the Corps expedite the completion of the ongoing study this year. Completion of this project will also address the rapid erosion of the GIWW, which threatens homes, state highways and property.<_u93a_p>
5. Lower Atchafalaya Basin: Graves' legislation directs the Corps to quickly complete the project to support flood protection of the Morgan City area through St. Martin, Assumption and other parishes. <_u93a_p>
6. Alexandria-to-the-Gulf: Expands the geographic scope of the project to include flood protection improvements in Pointe Coupee, Allen, Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis, Acadia, Iberville, and Cameron Parishes.<_u93a_p>
7. Authorization of New Feasibility Studies: Supporting projects including improving navigation between Bayou Rigaud and Caminada Pass, and the construction of a surge barrier at the Rigolets and Chef Menteur Pass to protect communities surrounding Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas - from St. Bernard and St. John the Baptist to Livingston parishes. <_u93a_p>

Increases authorization to support local water and sewer needs- Louisiana's fast growing parishes experience mounting stormwater and wastewater challenges that threaten to disrupt overwhelm existing infrastructure at great taxpayer expense. These Graves' provisions invite much needed federal financial support to tackle these imminent problems:

1. Capital Region (East Baton Rouge, Ascension, and Livingston Parishes) - $100,000,000<_u93a_p>
2. East Atchafalaya Basin and Amite River Basin - $45,000,000<_u93a_p>
3. Lafourche Parish - $7,300,000<_u93a_p>
4. Bayou Parishes (Terrebonne, St. Charles, Assumption, St. James, St. John, and St. Mary Parishes) - $17,500,000<_u93a_p>
5. Southeast Louisiana Region - $22,000,000<_u93a_p>

Improving the Corps Across the Nation<_u93a_p>

1. Reduces cost for the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District and State of Louisiana by an estimated $100 million on the Morganza-to-the-Gulf Hurricane Protection Project in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes<_u93a_p>
2. Continues to allow the State of Louisiana to maximize federal credits, saving the State's cash that can go toward the completion of additional water resources projects.<_u93a_p>
3. Authorizes improvements (higher levees) to post-Katrina levees through 2033.<_u93a_p>

1. Puts the Larose to Golden Meadow hurricane protection system on track to reenter the federal levee program - helping with insurance rates and federal funding<_u93a_p>
2. Expedites cost savings measures for Jefferson and Orleans Parishes related to the Southeast Louisiana (SELA) Urban Flood Control project<_u93a_p>
3. Algiers Canal Levee: confirming (yet again) that the federal government is responsible for all costs associated with the project (U.S. Congressman Troy Carter led amendment)<_u93a_p>
4. Helps to reduce conflict and reduce costs related to land acquisition for coastal restoration projects. This provision will make projects less expensive and will speed their delivery dramatically. <_u93a_p>

1. Requires GAO to carry out an analysis of the Corps' use of digital infrastructure technologies to improve project delivery.<_u93a_p>
2. Eases burdens and addresses challenges to the Corps' usage of third-party mitigation banks and requires the Corps to post upcoming mitigation needs so interested parties can inform the Corps of potential mitigation projects that meet such needs, improve environmental outcomes, save money and save time.<_u93a_p>
3. Improves the parameters of Independent External Peer Review and makes the authority permanent - to ensure positive project outcomes.<_u93a_p>
4. Directs the Corps to collaborate with relevant agencies and research institutions to be more proactive in developing economic, hydraulic and hydrologic models for use in water resources development projects.<_u93a_p>
5. Allows non-Federal project sponsors to build projects in place of the Army Corps of Engineers (known as 1043(b) Authority) - this saves money and time.<_u93a_p>
6. Permits the creation of environmental banks, which allow proactive investment into environmental restoration projects which improve the resilience of our coast. Louisiana projects are often touted as strong candidates to be built by non-federal entities - such as a local levee district - because of our diverse expertise in water infrastructure. Graves has long championed the approach and has sought to ensure that the program is robust and effective. <_u93a_p>

Background:

The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) is key legislation - typically updated every two years - that provides the critical framework for the development and maintenance of water resources infrastructure across the country. It includes the construction, maintenance, and improvement of levees, flood control projects, and navigation systems managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Louisiana is particularly dependent on robust water infrastructure with its extensive coastline, rivers, and wetlands. WRDA plays a critical role in supporting projects that mitigate flood risks, enhance navigation, restore ecosystems, and ensure water quality.<_u93a_p>

Graves previously served as the Chairman of the committee's Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, and coauthored much of the WRDAs in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022

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