WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) today announced that he has secured a commitment from Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Garret Graves to include authorization of the EAA Reservoir as part of this year’s Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) as soon as the Army Corps completes its required review of the Post-Authorization Change Report.  Rep. Mast serves as Vice Chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee.

“Authorization of this storage reservoir is a priority, and we are committed to including authorization of this project in this year’s Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) pending [the Army Corps’] timely and favorable recommendation,” Chairmen Shuster and Graves wrote in a letter led by Rep. Mast to the Army Corps on May 22, 2018.

Late last week, Rep. Mast convened a meeting with Chairmen Shuster, Chairman Graves and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works R.D. James (who overseas the Army Corps of Engineers) to discuss the importance of the EAA reservoir.  Before inclusion of the authorization in the Water Resources and Development Act, the Army Corps must compete its review of a Post-Authorization Change Report.  The Committee leaders urged the Army Corps to expedite review of the proposal and committed to including authorization of the project in WRDA pending the Army Corps’ favorable recommendation.

Following the meeting, the Members of Congress sent a follow-up letter to the Army Corps.  The full letter is attached. 

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