According to a cost estimate released by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) yesterday, the Senate’s Water Resources Development Act of 2013 (S 601) would cost $5.9 billion between 2014 and 2018 and $12.5 billion total over the next decade. The water resources measure, expected to be taken up later this month, would authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to construct water projects to mitigate storm damage, restore ecosystems and reduce erosion. The law would also authorize the agency to establish grant programs to help state and local governments with programs related to levee safety and rehabilitation, as well as provide the Corps and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with authority to provide direct loans or loan guarantees to state and local governments for water infrastructure projects.

Link(s): S 601