Sen. Doug Jones, D-AL, applauded the Senate’s passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which modernizes water infrastructure and addresses flood prevention, mitigation and environmental restoration needs. The bipartisan bill passed overwhelmingly on a 99-1 vote.

This bill affects Selma directly with an expedited study of erosion along the Alabama River that has endangered historic civil rights landmarks.

“The Water Resources Development Act proactively addresses a number of concerns with our nation’s water infrastructure in a broad, bipartisan way and will benefit our local economy. I’m proud that several provisions for Alabama were included in this comprehensive bill, including one to protect civil rights treasures in the City of Selma. Working with my colleagues, I helped to include a provision that will protect the city’s historic landmarks from the devastating effects of erosion along the Selma River bank caused by years of hurricanes and severe storms,” said Jones. “I was also proud to support another provision that will make major parts of the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk revitalization and commercialization possible. The Riverwalk is a key component of the city’s economic development plan and will enhance the cultural life of downtown Tuscaloosa. Lastly, I am glad that this bill includes bipartisan legislation I’ve cosponsored to authorize grants for household wastewater systems, which are urgently needed across rural America to address public health crises like those in rural Alabama and other parts of the country.”

WRDA includes several bipartisan provisions Jones championed that benefit Alabama, including:

 A provision calling for an expedited study of erosion along the bank of the Selma River that has endangered historic civil rights landmarks; a provision facilitating the conveyance of Army Corps of Engineers property along the Black Warrior River to the City of Tuscaloosa for the purpose of extending the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk and continuing the advancement of their premier economic development projects in the downtown area; and,  a provision authorizing grants for low- and moderate-income households for connecting homes to existing wastewater infrastructure or installing or upgrading individually owned decentralized wastewater systems.