U.S. Senator Katie Britt Celebrates Win for Mobile Harbor in Senate-Passed WRDA Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 18, 2024 – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) today supported the passage of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which included critical investments in Alabama’s water infrastructure, including a provision directing the Army Corps of Engineers to ensure not less than 70% of suitable dredged material is used for beneficial use and calling for collaboration with local stakeholders to address dredging and dredging material placement in Mobile Harbor.

“Dredging in the Mobile harbor and ship channel is critical to Alabama and our economy,” said Senator Britt. “The dredging provision in the 2024 WRDA bill will ensure we can balance both the Port’s role as a vital channel for commerce in our state and the need to conserve our natural resources and protect Alabama the Beautiful. Whether it’s sand to restore Dauphin Island or material for wetlands creation, it’s our responsibility to steward these resources and ensure their beneficial use at every turn. I have long promised to focus my efforts on behalf of Alabama families and our communities—this WRDA bill does this in a big way that will help deliver for our state for years to come.”

The 2024 WRDA bill authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program for projects to improve the nation’s ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other aspects of our water resources infrastructure.

Alabama’s nearly 1,270 miles of navigable inland waterways connect to over 15,000 miles of waterways in 23 states. The state’s deep-water port, the Port of Mobile, is a leader in national and global trade and was recently named the second fastest-growing port in the country, handling over 55 million tons of cargo each year.

The 2024 WRDA bill also includes several provisions that aim to improve navigation, flood control, and environmental management in Alabama. The bill:

• Directs the Army Corps of Engineers to expeditiously provide needed technical assistance to address the current impacts to navigation at the Wilson Lock and Dam;
• Authorizes the construction of new locks at the Coffeeville and Demopolis Lock and Dams to maintain the long-term navigability of Alabama’s inland waterway system;
• Modifies the federal cost share for the Selma Flood Risk Management and Stabilization Project to 100% to help ensure historic Civil Rights structures are maintained for future generations;
• Authorizes a feasibility study to address flooding in Lamar County at Luxapalila Creek;
• Increases the authorization for Environmental Infrastructure projects in Alabama from $50 million to $85 million, allowing Alabama communities to seek federal funding for certain water infrastructure economic growth projects;
• Directs the Army Corps of Engineers to expedite completion of the Chief’s Report for the Claiborne and Millers Ferry Lock and Dam Fish Passage project in Wilcox County, Alabama;
• Requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct an analysis of the distribution of funding from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, including the usage of credits by energy transfer ports (such as the Port of Mobile, AL) to conduct maintenance dredging; and
• Requires the Army Corps of Engineers to coordinate with relevant stakeholders to address the dredging needs along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway to ensure its continued navigability.

Background:

The 2024 WRDA bill includes additional provisions to increase the efficient use of federally owned office space, including setting occupancy standards, strengthening congressional oversight and public accountability of federal real estate projects, selling certain unused federal properties, and saving taxpayer dollars.

The bill also reauthorizes and modernizes the Economic Development Administration (EDA), for the first time in nearly 20 years, and other regional commissions whose mission is to spur economic development in distressed communities across the country.

In November of 2024, Senator Britt led every member of the Alabama delegation in sending a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers advocating for Operations and Maintenance (O&M) funding for Alabama’s inland waterway system and expressing concerns over recent major lock failures.

As a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Britt secured almost $73 million in direct spending for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Energy and Water Development Act, which was signed into law on March 9, 2024. Earlier this year, Senator Britt advanced critical appropriations funding totaling $25.07 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Energy and Water Development Act.

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