Savannah, Ga. — U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff’s legislation to upgrade water infrastructure across Coastal Georgia has been signed into law.
Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock’s Coastal Georgia Flooding Prevention Act was signed into lawearlier this month as part of the Water Resources Development Act reauthorization to upgrade water infrastructure for families and businesses across Coastal Georgia.
The law will establish a new authority for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct water infrastructure projects in Glynn, Chatham, Bryan, Effingham, McIntosh, and Camden Counties, which would improve quality of life, strengthen resilience, and prevent flooding along the coast.
With the new authorization, Congress can now appropriate funding for the Army Corps to partner with the Counties on water infrastructure projects.
“Amidst a surge of economic development across Coastal Georgia, we need to ensure our water infrastructure keeps up with increased demand,” Sen. Ossoff said. “That’s why Senator Reverend Warnock and I passed into law our bill to help Coastal Georgia communities partner with the U.S. Army Corps on vital projects to improve resilience and quality of life for families and businesses across the region.”
“Investing in coastal water infrastructure is essential for protecting our communities from the devastating effects of flooding. This legislation represents a critical step forward in enhancing our resilience against climate change and extreme weather events,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.“By funding advanced flood prevention measures and sustainable infrastructure projects, we not only safeguard our homes and businesses but also ensure the long-term health and stability of our coastal ecosystems. As a son of coastal Georgia, I want to thank Senator Ossoff for his partnership on this investment for the well-being and security of our coastal regions.”
“We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Senator Ossoff for his leadership and commitment to addressing critical infrastructure needs in our community. The inclusion of a provision in the Water Resources Development Act, authorizing the Army Corps of Engineers to assist Effingham County and other coastal counties with the design and construction of water infrastructure projects,” said Damon Rahn, Chairman, Effingham County. “This milestone represents meaningful progress toward ensuring the resilience and sustainability of our region. Thank you, Senator Ossoff, for your dedication to this effort and for championing the needs of our community. Your work is deeply appreciated.”
“Chatham County applauds the recent passage and signing of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 by President Biden. This landmark legislation includes a critical provision authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assist coastal communities with the design and construction of water infrastructure projects, addressing essential stormwater, drinking water, and wastewater needs,” said Chatham County Chairman Chester Ellis. “We are particularly proud that this provision originated as the Coastal Georgia Flooding Prevention Act, a bill Chatham County formally introduced to address the unique challenges faced by coastal areas like ours. Its inclusion in the broader legislation represents a significant step forward in supporting the resilience and sustainability of our local communities. This new authorization opens the door to enhanced collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers, providing Chatham County with additional resources and expertise to tackle critical infrastructure challenges. By investing in modern, sustainable solutions, we can better protect our residents, businesses, and natural resources from the impacts of flooding, aging infrastructure, and water quality concerns. We look forward to working with federal, state, and local partners to maximize the opportunities presented by this legislation and to ensure a brighter, safer future for Chatham County and the entire Coastal Georgia region.”
“This program provides an excellent opportunity to improve water and sewer infrastructure in the last rural county on the Coast of Georgia,” said McIntosh County Chairperson Catherine Pontello Karwacki. “McIntosh County is now experiencing demand unseen in past years.”
Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock continue working to strengthen Georgia’s water infrastructure.
Last April, Sens. Ossoff and Warnock delivered Federal resources to increase sewer capacity in Savannah and also delivered Federal funding to Georgia Southern University to help address current challenges to water resources posed by Coastal Georgia’s rapid population growth and economic development, aging infrastructure, and more
Last year, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock also delivered Federal funding to install a new sewer force main to strengthen infrastructure and services for unserved and underserved areas of Bulloch County.
In 2022, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock passed into law their Tybee Island Storm Risk Management Act, which extended the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ authority to partner with Tybee Island on beach renourishment and storm risk management projects for 12 years.
Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock similarly passed into law in 2022 their Port of Brunswick Navigation Channel Improvement Act to make upgrades to the Port’s navigation channel to help increased shipping traffic safely navigate the Port — boosting capacity and helping reduce supply chain bottlenecks.
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