Graves Highlights KC-Area Projects Included in WRDA

Press Release

U.S. Representative Sam Graves last night voted for the Water Resources Development Act of 2016, which passed the House and took a significant step toward becoming law. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has jurisdiction over river issues in Congress, Graves has had a hand in crafting policies in the bill since the beginning of 2016.

Among the provisions Graves worked to secure is funding for four major flood control projects in the area; the Kansas City Levees, Turkey Creek Basin, Dodson Industrial District, and Swope Park Industrial Area.

"Kansas City has become the economic hub of the Midwest. But without reliable levees along the Missouri and Kansas Rivers, businesses and infrastructure in the KC area would always be vulnerable to the next major flooding event," Rep. Graves said. "The bill we passed last night takes a huge step towards ensuring our local stakeholders and the Army Corps of Engineers have the resources they need to shore up flood protection, preserve our local economy, and protect the lives of people across the Kansas City region."

Graves' district is bordered by approximately 284 miles of the Missouri River on its western and southern boundaries, and more than 100 miles of the Upper Mississippi River on its eastern edge. In addition to providing the resources needed to protect against flooding, this WRDA bill invests in port and inland harbor infrastructure that allows American farmers and businesses to transport goods around the globe.

"This bill also focuses on investing in infrastructure that is absolutely essential to our economy," Rep. Graves continued. "It guarantees that goods manufactured or grown in Missouri can be shipped across oceans and used to feed people in every corner of the world, and that export opportunities for American small businesses can continue to grow."

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