Massachusetts 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 CapeCod.com NewsCenter reports.
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.
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.
“ 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 ,” Congressman Keating said in a statement.
After passed, the law will become part of the nation’s fiscal year 2019 budget.