{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senate-passes-major-bipartisan-bill-invest-nations-water-infrastructure", "Senate Passes Major Bipartisan Bill to Invest in the Nation's Water Infrastructure", "2016-12-11", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "ME", "Susan Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014With U.S. Senator Susan Collins\u2019 support,\u00a0the Senate passed\u00a0the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, a major bipartisan water infrastructure bill that authorizes dozens of crucial port and harbor projects across our country, including the Portsmouth Harbor and Piscataqua River Navigation Project, as well as key safe drinking water investments. The legislation will now go to the President's desk for his signature.\u00a0\n\u201cThis bipartisan water infrastructure bill will help create good jobs, ensure our nation\u2019s ports and waterways remain competitive, and provide urgent aid for communities across our country that are suffering from excess lead levels in their drinking water systems,\u201d\u00a0said Senator Collins.\u00a0\n\u201cMore than 99 percent of our country\u2019s trade passes through our nation\u2019s ports and harbors, which serve as crucial economic engines for communities in Maine and across our country,\u201d\u00a0Senator Collins continued.\u00a0\u201cThis legislation\u00a0green lights\u00a0a much-needed navigation project for the Portsmouth Harbor and the Piscataqua River, an important victory for the safe and efficient flow of goods into our state.\u00a0At present, the Portsmouth Harbor handles nearly 3.5 million tons of shipping each year and is\u00a0also\u00a0used by\u00a0submarines from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery. \u00a0The current\u00a0turning basin and waterway are far too narrow for such a large volume of commerce and through traffic.\u00a0This authorization will allow for the construction of a wider turning basin that will better meet the needs of the region.\nThe final bill authorizes $10.3 billion for 31 new Army Corps projects and modifies eight existing projects.\u00a0\nIt includes several provisions of importance to Maine, including:\n \nPortsmouth Harbor and Piscataqua River Navigation Improvement Project.\u00a0The WIIN Act authorizes a key improvement project in Maine that will enable vessels to safely navigate this area. At present the Portsmouth Harbor handles nearly 3.5 million tons of shipping each year yet the turning basin and waterway are far too narrow for such a large volume of commerce. This project would increase both safety and efficiency by constructing a wider turning basin that will serve the terminals on the upper section of the Piscataqua River, as well as by widening the waterway at several bends and bridges.\n \n \nEmerging Harbors.\u00a0The\u00a0WIIN Act makes permanent the 10 percent Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund set-aside for emerging harbors.\u00a0 The bill also requires that at least 10 percent of priority funds be used for the operations and maintenance needs of emerging harbors. \u00a0\u201cEmerging harbors\u201d include small harbor projects around the country like York, Biddeford, Wells, Saco, Kennebunkport, Beals Harbor, and Pig Island Gut.\n \n \nRecognizes the Beneficial Use of Dredged Material.\u00a0\u00a0The WIIN Act clarifies that dredged material disposal projects do not require ongoing maintenance and can be a single application of sediment.\u00a0 The Corps' current interpretation is that projects need to be maintained forever, which is more costly and burdensome and not always necessary. This provision will provide flexibility for shorter-term projects and is important to Wells, Kittery, and Cape Elizabeth.", 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://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senate-passes-major-bipartisan-bill-invest-nations-water-infrastructure"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.1973450891673565, "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"}