Higgins Votes for Water Resources Bill, Includes Wins for South Louisiana

Dec 10, 2024| Energy & the Environment, Press Releases, Water Management

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) voted for House passage of S. 4367, the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), which authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) projects and makes policy reforms that improve America's ports, waterways, and water management infrastructure.

Congressman Higgins requested and secured several measures for South Louisiana in the final bill. The following South Louisiana provisions were included:

• Authorizing a feasibility study on channel deepening and jetty extension for the Calcasieu River and Pass Project.
• Expansion of the Alexandria to the Gulf Study, adding Pointe Coupee, Aleen, Calcasieu, Jeff Davis, Acadia, Iberville, and Cameron parishes to better align the scope with Louisiana Watershed Initiative Region 5.
• Adds Terrebonne Parish to the service area for the Delta Regional Authority.
• Prioritizes the operation and maintenance needs of alternate seaports, like the Port of Lake Charles, to ensure continued economic and national security.
• Clarifies Hurricane & Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS) payback terms for Louisiana, potentially saving the State hundreds of millions of dollars.
• Extends the Non-Federal Implementation Pilot Program through 2030, which enables Louisiana's Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) to compete for federal funding for flood risk management, hurricane mitigation, and coastal storm damage reduction projects.

"South Louisiana's ports and waterways play a significant role in our state's economic infrastructure," said Congressman Higgins. "This WRDA package authorizes infrastructure improvements and provides the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with the necessary tools to invest in dredging, flood mitigation, and other maintenance procedures to ensure future success and growth. Over the past eight years, my office has opposed oppressive, bloated legislation that forced liberal policies and massive deficit spending while offering just a small percentage of actual concrete and steel infrastructure. Getting projects authorized and funded requires constant, focused work, and my office will never stop working for Louisiana…but we will not make deals with the Devil in exchange for a few bucks. Our infrastructure work is clean. We will continue to support infrastructure projects that drive economic growth and strengthen our coastal communities without sacrificing our core principles."

Earlier this year, Congressman Higgins testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, advocating for changes to the Calcasieu Ship Channel and other Louisiana projects to be included. Read more and watch that testimony here.