Book Description

Congress generally authorizes new Army Corps of Engineers water resources studies and projects in a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) before appropriating funds to them. The 107th, 108th, and 109th Congresses considered but did not enact WRDA legislation; the most recent WRDA was enacted in 2000. Pentup demand for new authorizations is prompting interest in enacting a bill in 2007. The Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (H.R. 1495) was passed by the House on April 19, 2007; on May 16, 2007, the Senate passed its version. On July 27, 2007, conferees met and agreed to a compromise bill; the conference report is available at [http: //www.rules.house.gov/110/text/110_hr1495cr.pdf]. The WRDA 2007 bills were based on the WRDA bills considered by the 109th Congress, reportedly to facilitate consideration in their respective chambers. These 109th Congress bills failed to move beyond conference, with a number of issues reportedly complicating negotiations (e.g., independent review, authorizations of municipal water and wastewater projects, concerns about the overall level of authorization). Some of the same issues continue to be part of the debate. The Administration has expressed reservations about the total authorization level of recent WRDA bills and about numerous specific provisions, while supporting other provisions. The Statements ..