House Passes Critical Dam Safety Reforms Authored by Rep. Maloney

Washington, D.C. – Representative Sean Patrick Maloney supported the bipartisan Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), which overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 417-3. In addition to containing critical reforms to dam safety programs authored by Rep. Maloney, this bill invests in vital water resources infrastructure, improves access to drinking water, invests in flood control, and provides protection against extreme weather events like Hurricanes Irene and Sandy.  

“This is a critical and strategic investment in our nation’s aging infrastructure that creates jobs, strengthens our local economy, and keeps Hudson Valley families safe,” said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney. “As we move forward on important flood mitigation projects, this bill will reduce red tape to speed up crucial Hurricane Sandy recovery projects and hasten relief to communities in the Hudson Valley.”

Earlier this year, Representative Maloney introduced standalone legislation, the Dam Safety Act, to give communities the support they need to ensure dams have the highest safety standards possible. The Hudson Valley is home to over 800 dams, and nearly 100 dams known as “high hazard” whose failure would pose a serious risk to the economy and well-being of communities and families. Maloney’s Dam Safety Act of 2013 addresses the growing safety concerns caused by our nation’s aging dam infrastructure by reauthorizing the National Dam Safety Program (NDSP), which the last Congress failed to reauthorized. The NDSP provides vital support to assist states like New York in developing Emergency Action Plans (EAPs), implementing existing dam safety programs, assisting with the purchase of equipment, and conducting dam inspections.

“This strategic investment provides our local communities with the resources needed to protect our families and economy by conducting safety inspections and creating emergency action plans. Our area is home to over 800 dams and nearly 100 high hazard dams - this is critical to public safety in the Hudson Valley,” concluded Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney.

Through WRRDA, Congress authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out its missions to dredge our ports, strengthen our infrastructure against extreme weather, provide flood mitigation, and restore important environmental ecosystems. Historically, Congress has passed this legislation every two years to provide clear direction to the Administration and the Corps, but no bill has been signed into law since 2007. In May, the Senate passed a bipartisan WRRDA bill.