The U.S. House passed legislation Thursday that strengthens infrastructure at America's ports, locks, dams and waterways.
The Water Resources Development Act was a provision introduced by 12th district Congressman Mike Bost to help rebuild Alexander County's Len Small Levee, which was breached during flooding in 2016. The final package is expected to be passed by the U.S. Senate and signed into law by the president in the coming weeks.
Under current law, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can only repair a non-federal levee if the flood protection benefits outweigh the costs. The Bost Amendment allows local sponsors to pay the difference between the cost of repairing a levee and its projected flood protection benefits.