Senator Lamar Alexander said on Saturday the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act will help protect business and jobs across the country by authorizing funding to build, repair and maintain the country’s water infrastructure.
"Improving locks, dams and other water infrastructure projects is one of the best ways the federal government can help protect jobs and industry in Tennessee and across the country. Today I voted for this bipartisan legislation because it authorizes funding to help do just that,” Senator Alexander said. “This bill will help keep commerce flowing on our nation’s rivers and can also help protect the Nashville area from future flooding by authorizing the Mill Creek Flood Risk Management Project, which is important to ongoing flood risk management for the Nashville area following the May 2010 Nashville flood.
Senator Bob Corker said, “Waterways in Tennessee and across our country are major economic drivers, and this bipartisan legislation will ensure our water infrastructure is maintained appropriately so that companies can continue to move goods in a timely and safe manner. I also am pleased this bill authorizes a flood risk reduction project at Mill Creek, which will better protect Nashville and Davidson County against future flooding.”
The agreement reached by the House and Senate authorizes funding to improve locks and dams, dredge rivers and harbors, prevent floods and storm damage, and conduct environmental restoration projects.
The House of Representatives passed the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act on Dec. 8 by a vote of 360 to 61. On Saturday, the Senate passed the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act by a vote of 78 to 21. The legislation can now be sent to the president so that it can become law.