Rep. McBride Secures Delaware Priorities in Water Resources Development Act

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (D-Del.) voted to pass the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which includes several Delaware priorities she advocated for during the development of the legislation. WRDA authorizes critical water resources infrastructure projects and studies through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program, supporting flood and storm protection, ports and harbors, and inland waterway navigation across the country.

As the state with the lowest mean elevation in the country, Delaware faces significant risks from flooding, coastal storms, and shoreline erosion. WRDA is a critical tool for strengthening Delaware’s water infrastructure, protecting communities across the state, and preparing coastal communities in Sussex County and communities along the Delaware River for future flooding.

“Protecting Delaware from flooding and extreme weather starts with ensuring our water infrastructure is built to withstand the challenges of today and tomorrow,” said Rep. McBride. “I’m proud that the House version of the bill, which passed with bipartisan support, includes several priorities I fought to secure for Delaware — strengthening protections along the Delaware River, advancing flood mitigation in New Castle and along the Assawoman Canal, and increasing support for the Delaware River Basin. WRDA isn’t just an investment in our water infrastructure — it’s an investment in our economy, our communities, and the future of our state.”

Delaware priorities secured by Rep. McBride include:

• Advancing flood and shoreline protection along the Delaware River by authorizing a study focused on flood risk management, shoreline damage prevention and mitigation, recreation, and ecosystem restoration;
• Supporting flood mitigation in the City of New Castle by authorizing a flood-risk-management study;
• Exploring additional flood protections for the Assawoman Canal through a newly authorized study; and
• Strengthening support for water infrastructure across the Delaware River Basin by expanding an existing environmental infrastructure program to cover the entire Basin and increasing its authorization from $20 million to $92.69 million.

The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate.