AISI says Water Infrastructure Bill “Important for Steel”

July 29, 2020

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 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020:

“The health and stability of our nation’s waterway transportation system is vital to the economic competitiveness of the domestic steel industry. Today’s bipartisan House passage of WRDA is important for the water-based transportation of steelmaking raw materials and finished steel products to their customers and end users in the market. Significantly, it ensures that American steel is used in the construction of these key water infrastructure projects. We also applaud key provisions, for which AISI has strongly advocated, to modify the inland waterways project cost-share to 65 percent from the general fund of the Treasury and 35 percent from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (from the previous 50/50 split). This will go a long way in facilitating the construction of important inland navigation projects and funding essential investments for Army Corps of Engineers projects. We continue to urge the Senate to pass its version of the legislation and that a final bill can be signed into law as soon as possible.”

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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).