U.S. House Passes Water Resources Development Act Including Rep. Omar's Language for Mississippi River Stability
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which incorporates language introduced by Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN). This specific language aims to safeguard the future of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and clarify the ownership and maintenance responsibilities for a critical piece of infrastructure beneath the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. The legislation grants authority to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to undertake water resources development projects and studies, focusing on improvements to the nation's ports, inland waterways, locks, dams, flood protection, ecosystem restoration, and other water resources infrastructure. Representative Omar expressed her satisfaction, noting that this passage addresses long-standing concerns from the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, and the State of Minnesota regarding the stability of the river at the heart of the Twin Cities. The inclusion of her language is seen as a step towards protecting a his...