America’s Water Infrastructure Act passes Senate, heads to President for signature

Washington, D.C. – Supporting Idaho’s water users and the critical infrastructure they rely on, U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-ID) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) voted in favor of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act. Among many important upgrades to our waterways, irrigation systems and dams, the bill will help ensure water delivery to Idaho ranches and farms, and will increase water storage in the West. It also removes unnecessary red tape, making billions of dollars in deauthorizations to help reduce the deficit. The President is expected to sign the bill into law.

“Anyone who uses so much as a drop of water in Idaho will benefit from this common sense legislation,” said Senator Risch. “This bill will help improve Idaho’s water infrastructure and bring more state and local control to our projects. As an advocate for hydropower, I am glad to see regulatory reforms in this bill that will streamline the approval process.”

“This bipartisan measure will support and advance critical water infrastructure projects across the nation and right here in Idaho,” said Senator Crapo.  “This measure will help eliminate regulatory hurdles on projects involving the Corps of Engineers, improve our inland waterways, dams and agricultural irrigation delivery systems, and provide communities the ability to maintain and improve water infrastructure systems.”

Notably for Idaho, the America’s Water Infrastructure Act directs the development of a flood prevention action plan for states in the Snake River Basin. It also continues restoration and aquatic invasive species prevention in the Columbia River Basin. The bill gives state and local leaders more control over Army Corps of Engineers projects. Additionally, the America’s Water Infrastructure Act encourages the use of clean, baseload hydropower which Risch and Crapo have long supported.