AISI Applauds Committee Passage of Water Infrastructure Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Kevin Dempsey, interim president and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), today issued the following statement on the passage by the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) today of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020:

“Investment in ports, inland waterways, locks and dams, is vital to the health of the steel industry, U.S. national security and our nation’s business supply chain. We are pleased that the T&I Committee today passed a bipartisan measure to, among other things, authorize Army Corps of Engineers’ projects and apply Buy America provisions to all Corps construction projects to ensure American steel is used in the construction of water infrastructure projects. This will enhance the demand for domestic steel. In addition, AISI member companies rely heavily on seaports and inland waterways to move raw materials that are essential for domestic steelmaking. We applaud today’s bill as a critical step in securing passage of this important legislation soon.”

Dempsey noted that the legislation also modifies the inland waterways project cost-share to 65% from the general fund of the Treasury and 35% from Inland Waterways Trust Fund (over the previous 50%/50%), which will facilitate the construction of important inland navigation projects.

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Contact: Lisa Harrison
202.452.7115 / lharrison@www.steel.org

AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI’s membership is comprised of integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI’s website at www.steel.org. Follow AISI on Facebook or Twitter (@AISISteel).