WASHINGTON, March 14, 2013 – U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., U.S. Sens. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., today
introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve the nation’s water
infrastructure – including locks and dams along the Mississippi and Illinois
Rivers – through public-private partnerships that would expedite projects and save
taxpayers money.
The Water Infrastructure Now Public-Private Partnership
Act would create a pilot program to explore agreements between the Army Corps
of Engineers and private entities as alternatives to traditional financing,
planning, design, and construction models. The Army Corps of Engineers
estimates a $60 billion backlog of outstanding projects that will take decades
to complete without outside investment.
“The Illinois and
Mississippi rivers are the lifeblood of the Midwest's economic engine,” said
Senator Kirk. “At a time when the Army Corps of Engineers is facing severe
funding shortfalls and a growing backlog of authorized projects, we need to
explore new ways to bring private support to our public assets. This
legislation allows important lock and dam and flood control projects the opportunity
to engage in a public-private agreement for project management, keeping costs
down and speeding construction. I am a strong supporter of innovative
financing and project delivery in infrastructure, and look forward to the
public-private partnerships that will result from this effort.”
“Over five years ago, I worked with my colleagues to
authorize a program to ensure safer, more reliable and more efficient
navigation along the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers by expanding and
modernizing the locks and dams,” said Durbin. “Unfortunately, the first
benefits of this modernization won’t be felt until 2047 – and that was the
prediction before sequestration. It’s clear we need a new model – one
that speeds up the process of planning and constructing projects and brings to
the table greater private investment. Our bipartisan bill will provide a
new way to upgrade and maintain our water infrastructure investments even as we
face severe fiscal constraints in Washington.”
The Water Infrastructure Now Public-Private Partnership
Act would authorize a pilot program for 5 years that would identify up to 15
previously authorized navigation, flood damage reduction, and hurricane and
storm damage reduction projects for participation.
For the projects that are chosen for participation, the
Army Corps of Engineers and private entities would enter into innovative new
agreements to decentralize the planning, design, and construction processes in
an effort to speed up project delivery while maintaining safety.
Additionally, these agreements could bring more private investment in water
infrastructure projects.
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