WASHINGTON – Several Alabama projects, including the Wilson Lock and Dam, will soon see improvements in the recently passed bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt backed the bill which supports critical improvements to Alabama’s water infrastructure. It recently passed the House and now goes to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature.
“Alabama’s inland water infrastructure will be getting the support it needs to boost our economy and our national security,” said Britt (R-Montgomery). “I was proud to secure needed provisions in the 2024 WRDA bill that will prioritize Alabama, including authorizing the construction of new, critical locks at the Coffeeville and Demopolis Locks and Dams; pushing the Secretary of the Army Corps to provide critical assistance to improve navigation at the Wilson Lock and Dam; creating opportunities for federal investment in critical local water infrastructure projects across Alabama, and more.
“I have long promised to focus my efforts on behalf of Alabama families and our communities — this WRDA bill does this in a big way that will help deliver for our state for years to come.”
The 2024 WRDA bill authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program for projects to improve the nation’s ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other aspects of our water resources infrastructure.
Alabama’s nearly 1,270 miles of navigable inland waterways connect to over 15,000 miles of waterways in 23 states.
The bill includes several provisions that aim to improve navigation, flood control, and environmental management in Alabama. Among other items, it:
- Directs the Corps of Engineers to expeditiously provide needed technical assistance to address the current impacts to navigation at the Wilson Lock and Dam;
- Increases the authorization for Environmental Infrastructure projects in Alabama from $50 million to $85 million, allowing Alabama communities to seek federal funding for certain water infrastructure economic growth projects;
- Requires the Corps of Engineers to coordinate with relevant stakeholders to address the dredging needs along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway to ensure its continued navigability.
The 2024 WRDA bill also includes additional provisions to increase the efficient use of federally owned office space, including setting occupancy standards, strengthening congressional oversight and public accountability of federal real estate projects, selling certain unused federal properties, and saving taxpayer dollars.
The bill also reauthorizes and modernizes the Economic Development Administration, for the first time in nearly 20 years, and other regional commissions whose mission is to spur economic development in distressed communities.
In November 2024, Britt led the entire Alabama delegation in sending a letter to the Corps of Engineers advocating for Operations and Maintenance funding for Alabama’s inland waterway system and expressing concerns over recent major lock failures.
As a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Britt secured almost $73 million in direct spending for the Corps of Engineers in the FY 2024 Energy and Water Development Act, which was signed into law last March. This year, Britt advanced critical appropriations funding totaling $25.07 million in the FY 2025 Energy and Water Development Act.
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