Transportation policymakers on Capitol Hill finalized a comprehensive water infrastructure legislative package, paving the way for its end-of-the-year passage.

The biennial Water Resources Development Act 2024, which was approved in the House and Senate earlier this year, is designed to provide billions of dollars for the nation’s intricate network of ports, dams and canals.

The leadership of Congress’ transportation panels on Dec. 3 announced the conclusion of monthslong negotiations specific to WRDA’s long list of projects under the supervision of the Army Corps of Engineers.

This bill will lead to improved ports, levees, navigation channels, flood protection and more. WRDA also makes policy and programmatic reforms to streamline Corps processes, reduce cumbersome red tape and get projects done faster,” Graves said Dec. 3.

There are nearly two dozen newly approved projects tucked in the bill. These include a $100 million flood risk management operation at the Tar-Pamlico River Basin in North Carolina and a $79 million coastal storm risk management program in Baltimore. Also, the measure would require a series of environmental review studies and reports about project delivery methodology. It also would direct federal agencies to examine the implementation of funds and the Government Accountability Office to review the effectiveness of key provisions in the law.