Savannah, Ga. — U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff passed their legislation to upgrade water infrastructure across Coastal Georgia through the U.S. Senate.
Sens. Ossoff and Warnock introduced the Coastal Georgia Flooding Prevention Act to upgrade water infrastructure for families and businesses across Coastal Georgia.
The bill passed the Senate as part of this year’s Water Resources Development Act reauthorization. The bill previously passed the House and now heads to the President’s desk to become law.
The bill would establish a new authority for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out 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.
The new authority would be a key first step to then next appropriate funds for local 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 introduced and have now passed this new 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.”
Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock continue working to strengthen Georgia’s water infrastructure.
In April, Sens. Ossoff and Warnock delivered Federal resources to increase sewer capacity in Savannah.
Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock 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
This 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.
# # #
