RIBBLE: Keeping our waterways flowing: and making Congress work at the same time

OPINION:

It seems like Congress just can’t get anything done these days, even when there’s broad agreement that a problem needs to be solved. Instead, the important issues tend to get punted until “after the next election.” And then, once the next election passes, it’s on to the next election. And the next. And so forth.

So the American people are subjected to a never-ending cycle of their representatives in Congress punting on important issues, waiting until the last minute to avert various crises, and then claiming credit for the miniscule fixes that are enacted at the eleventh hour. As bad as that sounds, it’s worse in election years like this one.

Despite that, Congress was recently able to work together on a bipartisan, bicameral basis to complete work on the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA). Very simply, this legislation will expedite much-needed improvements to our water transportation network. It will speed up work on maritime projects, eliminate redundant requirements, and preserve the voice of Congress in setting policy priorities.

While this bill didn’t grab all of the headlines, it impacts a wide range of different employers in our economy. From the farmers that rely on an efficient inland waterways system to move their goods, to the manufacturers that use seaports to transport raw materials and finished products, the new water transportation bill will help our economy regain the competitive footing it so desperately needs.

The WRRDA bill also begins to solve problems that have plagued our harbors for years. In Great Lakes states like Wisconsin, our ports and harbors are in serious need of dredging to ensure that cargo can be moved effectively. The Great Lakes region also suffers when compared to other regions because of outdated federal policies that make it difficult for the Lakes to compete for resources together. The new water bill helps to fix both of these problems.

Poll after poll shows that the American people don’t have much faith in Congress, and deservedly so. But this bill is a shining example of how effective Congress can be when it ultimately gets to work. Unlike much of the legislation passed in recent years, this bill moved through regular order from start to finish.

Last year, both the House and Senate held hearings on important water transportation issues, inviting numerous stakeholders to the discussion. Armed with the facts, the Committees wrote and passed legislation with input from their members and debated numerous amendments. Defying the odds, both houses passed their bills with overwhelming bipartisan majorities. In fact, the House legislation passed on a vote of 417-3.

To finish the process, House and Senate committee members worked together to negotiate a final bill that reflected the wishes and priorities of both chambers while moving our country and our economy forward as a whole. I was proud to be a part of the process as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

So what are the takeaways from the completion of this bill? For one, we’ve put in place significant reforms that will strengthen our maritime transportation system over many years. But more importantly, we learned that when Congress embraces important issues instead of fearing them, and debates amendments instead of avoiding them, the legislative process can yield a final product that, though imperfect, represents a step forward for the American people.