"Legislation is product of a bipartisan, bicameral deal"

"A new water resources bill has taken two big steps closer to approval following the House's approval of a compromise measure worked out in negotiations among lawmakers from both chambers.

The legislation, the product of a bipartisan, bicameral deal, would authorize about $9.9 billion in federal funds for 46 Army Corps of Engineers flood control, environmental restoration, coastal protection and other projects. ENR estimates the projects’ total costs, including nonfederal shares, at $14.4 billion.

But advocates of Environmental Protection Agency water infrastructure programs, including aid for wastewater-treatment projects, were disappointed that lawmakers didn’t include any funding in the bill beyond the dollars for the Corps."

Tom Ichniowski reports for Engineering News-Record December 7, 2020. [2]