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House to Today Vote on Jobs Legislation
Late last night the House released their version of a jobs bill, which is placing a priority on shovel ready infrastructure projects. House Leadership announced the $75 billion "Jobs for Main Street Act" and revealed that a significant amount of the $75 billion bill is dedicated to transportation infrastructure investment and another $11 billion is dedicated toward additional infrastructure investment. The House is expected to pass the bill later today, while the Senate may take the legislation up early next year.
The bill indicated that the US Army Corps of Engineers can expect to be provided with $715 million for construction, with $30 million of that available for "water related environmental infrastructure assistance" and another $30 million for the Mississippi River and Tributaries Account. The balance will go toward navigation infrastructure projects, flood protection, environmental restoration, and hydropower with specific amounts to still be determined.
Additionally, the Bureau of Reclamation can expect $100 million for Water and Related Resources projects with $26 million of that money going toward water reclamation and reuse projects and $2 billion is being dedicated to help communities build facilities for clean and safe water.
Finally, the new bill will waive the cost share requirement with the Inland Waterways Trust Fund for navigation infrastructure projects.
Thank you to all those groups that signed onto our letter to Congress asking them to make water infrastructure investment in a jobs bill!
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