Congress Overrides Veto of Water Resources Authorization
The House on November 6 overwhelmingly overrode the Administration’s veto of the Water Resources Development Act by a vote of 361 to 54. The Senate quickly acted in similar fashion, voting 79 to 14 to override the veto on November 8. As such, this legislation represents the first water resources legislation to become law in the last seven years.
The Administration opposed the legislation due primarily to its estimated cost of some $23 billion, stating that the legislation would overly extend the Corps of Engineers resources. The bill will authorize over 900 projects which include dredging services in the Great Lakes, Gulf coast, Illinois and Mississippi River systems. Additionally, the bill will federally fund a second 1,200 foot lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan at a cost of nearly $342 million.
The Administration has vetoed only five bills since taking office in 2001 and this is the first time Congress has enacted a law over the Administration’s objections.
Great Lakes Maritime Interests Seek to Maintain Momentum For Dredging Projects
As noted above, the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (WRDA) contains full federal funding for a second Poe size lock at Sault Ste. Marie. This badly needed and well deserved funding was not an isolated inclusion in the law. Also included was an increase of approximately $46 million to address the severe backlog of necessary dredging in the region for both recreational and commercial projects along with a mandate for the Corps of Engineers to accelerate the execution of those efforts.
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Congress Overrides Veto of Water Resources Authorization
The House on November 6 overwhelmingly overrode the Administration’s veto of the Water Resources Development Act by a vote of 361 to 54. The Senate quickly acted in similar fashion, voting 79 to 14 to override the veto on November 8. As such, this legislation represents the first water resources legislation to become law in the last seven years.
The Administration opposed the legislation due primarily to its estimated cost of some $23 billion, stating that the legislation would overly extend the Corps of Engineers resources. The bill will authorize over 900 projects which include dredging services in the Great Lakes, Gulf coast, Illinois and Mississippi River systems. Additionally, the bill will federally fund a second 1,200 foot lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan at a cost of nearly $342 million.
The Administration has vetoed only five bills since taking office in 2001 and this is the first time Congress has enacted a law over the Administration’s objections.
Great Lakes Maritime Interests Seek to Maintain Momentum For Dredging Projects
As noted above, the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (WRDA) contains full federal funding for a second Poe size lock at Sault Ste. Marie. This badly needed and well deserved funding was not an isolated inclusion in the law. Also included was an increase of approximately $46 million to address the severe backlog of necessary dredging in the region for both recreational and commercial projects along with a mandate for the Corps of Engineers to accelerate the execution of those efforts.
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