On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., applauded the Senate’s overwhelming bipartisan passage of comprehensive water infrastructure legislation that provides additional resources for Georgia’s ports and coastal areas, promotes our nation’s infrastructure and commerce, and invests in the safety and reliability of our drinking water. The legislation passed by a vote of 99-1.

The America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, S.3201, updates funding authorization for water infrastructure priorities to better reflect current needs and more efficiently use taxpayer money.  

“I’m glad to see this legislation pass to help our economy, our coastal communities and our ports – including the Port of Savannah,” said Isakson. “As our ports continue to set new records for commerce, the America’s Water Infrastructure Act will help ensure there is no last-minute bureaucratic hurdle to completing the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project on time.”

The legislation includes an update for the authorization of the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project to keep this important project on track for completion. The total cost of the project would now be authorized at $1.019 billion with a federal share of $731.7 million and a state share of $287.2 million.

Additionally, the legislation:

Authorizes federal funding for water infrastructure projects, 

Expands water storage capabilities,

Upgrades aging drinking water, wastewater and irrigation systems,

Reduces flooding risks for rural and coastal communities,

Ensures that America maintains the competitiveness of coastal and inland ports and maintains the navigability of inland waterways, and

Creates a new framework to allow for more Army Corps projects to be budgeted with increased local stakeholder input and expanded transparency.

The U.S. House of Representatives previously passed the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 by voice vote on Sept. 13, and it now moves to the president’s desk to be signed into law.