House Transportation Committee approves water infrastructure bill

(Photo: Photo Phiend / Flickr)(Photo: Photo Phiend / Flickr)

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously approved its proposed water infrastructure bill Thursday, The Hill reports.

The Water Resources and Reform Development Act (WRRDA), which the committee introduced earlier this month, would reauthorize federal waterways funding for the first time in six years.

The bill, formally known as H.R. 3080, is one in which Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) has taken a great deal of interest. He has promoted it in offbeat ways like using a whiteboard to explain the bill and scheduling a Twitter town hall about WRRDA.

According to The Hill, Shuster called the bill “one of my highest priorities.” He said he was confident both parties in the House would support it.

WRRDA contains only authorization for waterways spending. The congressional appropriations committees would still need to approve funding.