Last night, the Senate passed the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2022(WRDA) 83-11, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

Senator Reverend Warnock pushed to include multiple Georgia priorities in the legislation, including $75 million to support water infrastructure projects in rural and underserved communities throughout Georgia

Senator Reverend Warnock: “Repairing, revitalizing and updating Georgia’s water infrastructure, from our job-creating ports to our iconic rivers and more, is good both for Georgia’s economy and our ecology. I’m thrilled we were able to pass these investments through Congress with strong bipartisan support”

ICYMI, from the Brunswick News: “The Port of Brunswick is getting more than $16 million in federal funding to help support the port’s harbor expansion project.[…] U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, originally introduced the provision and was successful in getting it included”

Washington D.C. — Last night, the Senate passed the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA), 83-11, sending the bill to the President’s desk with numerous priorities secured by U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA). WRDA authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out projects relating to water supply, wastewater infrastructure, food control, navigation, and ecosystem restoration across the country. Over the past several months, Senator Warnock worked closely with members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to ensure the final legislation includes multiple provisions crucial for the health and safety of Georgia’s water infrastructure. An initial version of WRDA passed the Senate 93-1 in July. The legislation, along with the NDAA, now heads to President Biden’s desk, where the President expected to sign it.

“When Georgians sent me to the Senate, they expected me to work hard to ensure Georgia gets its fair share of federal resources and that Washington focuses on funding the priorities that are most critical to the lives and livelihoods of people in our state—and I’m proud the Water Resource Development Act does just that,” Senator Warnock said. “Repairing, revitalizing and updating Georgia’s water infrastructure, from our job-creating ports to our iconic rivers and more, is good both for Georgia’s economy and our ecology. I’m thrilled we were able to pass these investments through Congress with strong bipartisan support. I’m glad to know this legislation will soon be signed into law and I’ll continue to work in the Senate to ensure investments can start flowing to every corner of our state as soon as possible.”

Senator Warnock has been a vocal advocate for investments in Georgia’s infrastructure, including critical projects to improve water and wastewater systems and strengthen Georgia’s economically important deepwater ports to optimize their efficiency and improve operations.

See key wins Senator Reverend Warnock secured in the Water Resources Development Act below: 

• Water Infrastructure Assistance for Rural and Economically Disadvantaged Communities: At Senator Warnock’s request, the bill includes a new $75millionauthorization for environmental infrastructure investment in rural and economically disadvantaged communities across Georgia.

• Tybee Island Beach Renourishment: Senator Warnock successfully fought in this legislation to extend authorization for the Tybee Island beach renourishment project, which protects the safety and economic health of the Tybee Island. Previously, Senator Warnock joined fellow Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff to introduce the Tybee Island Storm Risk Management Act, stand-alone legislation mirroring this provision.

• Brunswick Harbor: At Senator Warnock’s urging, the bill authorizes $16.2 million to support harbor expansion efforts. Senator Warnock originally introduced this provision as the Port of Brunswick Navigation Channel Improvement Act, along with Senator Ossoff, and was successful at getting it included in the WRDA text.

• Savannah Harbor Modification Study: Following successful completion of the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project, this bill authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study potential modifications of the Port to improve efficiencies and support continued supply chain improvements. Senator Warnock championed this provision, and has long been an advocate for increased investments and improvements at the Port.

• Cap Increase for Atlanta Water Infrastructure: The bill increases Atlanta’s funding cap from $25 million to $75 million for their environmental infrastructure authorization—an effort pushed by Senator Warnock. With local needs increasing, this cap increase will ensure continued federal support for water, wastewater, and storm water projects in the metro Atlanta area.

• Chattahoochee River Act: The bill includes Senator Warnock’s Chattahoochee River Act, co-led by Senator Ossoff, which authorizes a program to provide environmental assistance in the Chattahoochee River Basin for water-related projects that may improve the basin.

• Cumberland Island: The bill authorizes a feasibility study for ecosystem restoration and coastal storm risk management on the island.  

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