{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://lipinski.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=91&itemid=6578", "House Passes Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Legislation with Important Local Provisions Authored by Congressman Lipinski Including Increased Funding to Protect the Great Lakes from Invasive Asian Carp", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "IL", "Daniel Lipinski", "L000563", "lipinski.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  The House of Representatives passed as part of the COVID-19 and FY21 appropriations omnibus legislation (HR 133), the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020. WRDA authorizes specific Army Corps of Engineers projects and oversees other water infrastructure projects at our ports and inland waterway navigation system. WRDA 2020 authorizes a record 46 new Army Corps of Engineer Projects and 27 new feasibility studies while directing the Corps to make greater use of natural and nature-based projects. The passage of WRDA 2020 follows previous WRDA bills in 2018, 2016, and 2014.\r\n\r\n\tI have long championed investing in and improving our inland waterway and port infrastructure. The Illinois Waterway system runs through the heart of the Third District and is vital to regional commerce, said Congressman Lipinski. The Water Resources Development Act of 2020 contains a provision I fought for on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that provides an 80%, instead of the usual 50%, federal cost share on the Brandon Road Lock and Dam project that will provide further protection against the spread of invasive Asian Carp into Lake Michigan.\r\n\r\n\tKey wins for the 3rd Congressional District of Illinois:\r\n \r\n\t\r\n\t\tAuthorizes the Brandon Road lock and dam project in Joliet at 80% federal cost share, a higher federal share than normal for a project like this, in order to help prevent the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.\r\n\t\r\n\t\tAuthorizes the Bubbly Creek ecosystem restoration project.\r\n\t\r\n\t\tDirects the Army Corps of Engineers to prioritize completion of a study to fix the eroding Chicago Shoreline.\r\n\t\r\n\t\tAuthorizes a study to develop eco-system restoration projects for the Chicago Area Rivers system.\r\n\t\r\n\t\tIncorporates more natural infrastructure, including green infrastructure, into the Army Corps of Engineers work to reduce flooding and restore ecosystems in a more sustainable, less costly way.\r\n\t\r\n\t\tRaises the federal cost share for inland waterways system infrastructure projects from 50% to 65%, to help the Army Corps of Engineers modernize our inland waterways system more quickly and effectively. This change will help expedite the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP), which will make much needed navigation improvements to the locks and dams in Upper Mississippi River System.\r\n \r\n\r\n\tThe full WRDA 2020 bill will authorize the study and construction of dozens of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects that build and maintain inland waterway locks and dams, ports, and other water infrastructure, while also providing flood relief, and restoring damaged ecosystems. Infrastructure projects authorized under the legislation will create good paying jobs. The bill has won the endorsement of both business and labor groups across the country.\r\n\r\n\tThe Water Resources Development Act of 2020 was included as Division AA in H.R. 133.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://lipinski.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=91&itemid=6578"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9174700826406479, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}