In the aftermath of the election last week, our lawmakers, new and old, are saying things we in the infrastructure community have been waiting for; infrastructure will be a priority. We know that infrastructure is vitally important to our country, and we know the near dire status of the infrastructure that has been out-of-sight and out-of-mind for far too long. We know that investing in infrastructure is investing in America’s future, but we need our message to be heard far and wide.

That’s why CWC is glad to hear President-Elect Trump pledge to rebuild America. In his victory speech, the President-Elect said, “We are going to fix our inner cities and rebuild our highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, schools, hospitals. We’re going to rebuild our infrastructure, which will become, by the way, second to none. And we will put millions of our people to work as we rebuild it.”

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy reiterated the House’s intention to vote to begin a conference negotiation with the Senate over the Water Resources Development Act. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman James Inhofe said he remains “optimistic there will be a deal.”

The talk isn’t just from lawmakers at the top. “I think we might be able to get more common ground than people anticipate. I certainly hope so because our country needs it more than ever,” said Representative-elect Charlie Crist.

CWC will remain committed to pushing WRDA to become law before the 114th Congress ends, and will begin the new year with greater momentum for infrastructure than any other time in recent history.