Keating Amendments Focus on Bridges, Plymouth Dredging

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US Congressman Bill Keating 

WASHINGTON -Congressman Bill Keating has attached several amendments to the new Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 that has passed both houses of Congress and is headed to President Donald Trump’s desk for signature.

The second of the five amendments gives the Army Corps of Engineers the authority to repair or replace any of New England’s federally owned bridges that are necessary for evacuation during extreme weather or natural disasters. Under the Army Corp’s ongoing supervision of the Bourne and Sagamore bridges, the Corps has been increasing necessary maintenance of the 85 year old spans.

Also included in the Bill is an order directing the Corps of Engineers to prioritize dredging of Plymouth Harbor ahead of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the pilgrims landing in Plymouth.

Keating also added amendments that fund efforts at the VA to deal with the opioid epidemic and funding for marine technology research.

“These five provisions will have a great impact on our district. First, the much-needed Plymouth Harbor dredging project will prepare us for the anticipated increase in marine traffic due to the Plymouth 400 celebrations, as well as make way for the Mayflower II to return home,” Keating said in a statement.

“The Cape Cod Canal Bridges, along with other critical evacuation infrastructure, play a fundamental role in providing for the public safety of the nearly 250,000 people who live on the Cape and Islands. My second WRDA amendment grants the Army Corps the ability to push forward with efforts to ensure safe passage over the Canal, and I look forward to continue working with Army Corps leadership to ensure that our government provides the safest, most resilient evacuation routes it can.”

After passed  the law will become part of the nation’s fiscal year 2019 budget. 

 

 

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