Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today announced the passage of legislation to invest in water infrastructure to keep Minnesota’s economy strong. Klobuchar cosponsored the Water Resources Development Act, which passed the Senate today and will help ensure the long-term viability of inland waterway systems, including the Mississippi, and also advance key flood protection projects in Fargo-Moorhead and Roseau and address port and harbor maintenance on the Great Lakes.

“Our 21st century economy demands 21st century infrastructure and that means investing in the waterways that keep businesses and towns in Minnesota afloat,” Klobuchar said. “This legislation is vital to help maintain and rehabilitate our ports and harbors and advance key flood protection projects in our lakes and rivers that will help ensure the long-term viability of our waterways.”

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, inefficiencies in infrastructure are expected to drive up the cost of doing business by an estimated $430 billion in the next decade.

The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) includes several of Klobuchar’s provisions to maintain and improve the inland waterway system. Specifically, it includes provisions similar to legislation Klobuchar cosponsored—the River Act—which would help fund critical construction projects, including rehabilitation of the locks and dams on the Mississippi River. It also includes a provision Klobuchar worked on with Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) to direct the Secretary of the Army Corps to ensure dredging and maintenance is carried out throughout the Great Lakes navigation system. Klobuchar was recently in the Port of Duluth-Superior to highlight the critical need for dredging and maintenance to the economy of the Great Lakes.

The legislation would also authorize the Fargo-Moorhead diversion project to move from planning, engineering and design phase to the construction phase and would advance flood protection efforts in Roseau that would help to significantly reduce future flood damage. Klobuchar spoke with the President to push for more funding for the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion Project and recently met with local officials in the Fargo-Moorhead region to assess flood preparation efforts and discuss permanent flood protection.

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