Congressman Cohen Secures Authorizations for TN-9 Infrastructure and Environmental Projects in the 2025 Water Resources Development Act

WASHINGTON, DC - On Monday night, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) voted to pass the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) (H.R. 8812) in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would authorize and fund U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program projects to improve ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and more across the United States These projects are essential to preserving and growing local economies, protecting our environment, and maintaining quality of life. WRDA was passed in the House by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 359-13, and it included provisions Representative Cohen secured that will benefit our growing economy and natural habitats in Memphis and TN-9.

"I'm proud to have secured key authorizations in the Water Resources Development Act that will boost our economy and protect our natural habitats," said Congressman Cohen. "From ensuring regular dredging at Pidgeon Harbor that will support local jobs and growing economic opportunity to advancing the Hatchie-Loosahatchie Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study, these projects are vital for the future of Memphis and TN-9. This funding will strengthen our infrastructure, safeguard our environment, and enhance the quality of life for our communities."

The House-passed WRDA bill includes support Representative Cohen secured for several important projects that will benefit economic activity and environmental protection in TN-9, including:

• The Dredging of Pidgeon Harbor at Pidgeon Industrial Park -The bill includes Congressman Cohen's provision to include Pidgeon Harbor in the Army Corps' Operation and Maintenance General Budget for regular dredging maintenance. This update to WRDA is essential to the harbor's ongoing operation and vital for the manufacturing, logistics, and other companies that rely on the harbor to move and receive goods. Dredging at Pidgeon Harbor will help support 500 local jobs-including at Nucor Steel, the nation's largest steel producer-and is projected to have an economic impact of $1.2 billion.

• Protecting Natural Habitats Along the Lower Mississippi River -The bill also includes Congressman Cohen's provision to authorize the Hatchie-Loosahatchie Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study, which will showcase a comprehensive approach to managing Lower Mississippi River habitats and implementing restoration on a systemic scale. Covering a 39-mile stretch of the Mississippi River near Memphis and approximately 146,000 acres, these restoration measures will provide important ecosystem services for surrounding communities, including clean air and water, invasive species control, flood control, pollination, and recreation.

The bill also included various policy requests authored by Congressman Cohen such as provisions related to preventing the U.S. Army Corps from using remote operation activities at a navigation or hydroelectric power generating facility unless under specified conditions, offsetting costs to the Mississippi River, and making permanent a 2020 provision that directed the Secretary to implement a pilot program for carrying out continuing authority projects in small or disadvantaged communities at 100% federal costs.

Now that the bill has been passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, it will await further consideration by the U.S. Senate. Click hereto learn more about the FY 2025 Water Resources Development Act.

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