September 16, 2021

Duckworth Meets with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District Commander

 

[ROCK ISLAND, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife, today met with Colonel Jesse Curry, Rock Island District Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to discuss ongoing water infrastructure investments and projects along the Upper Mississippi. Duckworth and Curry discussed the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP), a long-term ecological restoration and navigation program for the Upper Mississippi River System, as well as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s investment for inland waterways projects. Photos from today’s meeting are available here.

“Colonel Curry and I had a great discussion about the importance of water infrastructure, ongoing projects throughout the region and safeguarding our environment,” Duckworth said. “Federal infrastructure investments are critical to the safety of residents, neighborhoods and businesses, and I look forward to working with Colonel Curry and continuing to work with USACE to improve our infrastructure.”

Last month, Duckworth voted to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal out of the Senate, which includes $9.55 billion for USACE. Of this funding, $2.5 billion is allocated for inland waterways project construction and another $2.5 billion for inland flood risk management. This deal also fully authorizes Duckworth’s bipartisan Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA), which would help rebuild our nation’s crumbling and dangerous water infrastructure, includes $15 billion for lead service line replacement and another $500 million in lead testing and reductions programs.

-30-