House Passes Bill That Includes NRMCA Language on Resilient Construction

H.R. 3080 – the Water Resource Reform and Development Act of 2013 – passed the House last week by a nearly unanimous vote of 417-3. The bill both reforms and authorizes the programs of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works programs related to navigation, flood risk management, recreation, infrastructure and environmental stewardship. The results will ensure the Army Corps' ability to effectively expedite projects, prioritize investments, provide resilience, protect communities and maintain our nation’s waterways, ports, channels, dams and levees.

NRMCA’s resilient construction definition – which allows a property to resist hazards brought on by a major disaster and to continue to provide the primary functions of the property after a major disaster – was included in the bill’s report. The next step is to conference the bill with the Senate WRDA Bill, S. 601, which passed the Senate on May 1 by a vote of 87-14. NRMCA’s resilient construction language was included in S. 601 as an amendment offered by Senators Nelson (FL) and Blunt (MO). The resilient construction definition has also been listed by the White House as one of its priorities for WRDA reauthorization. NRMCA will continue to work with members of the conference committee to ensure this language is retained in the final version.

Additionally, Congressman Daniel Webster (FL -10) has offered an amendment to include the same Resilient Construction language in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Reauthorization Act of 2013 (H.R.  3300). H.R. 3300 was introduced last week and is currently before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for consideration.