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WASHINGTON,
DC –
U.S.
Senators
Tim
Scott
(R-SC)
and
Lindsey
Graham
(R-SC)
secured
two
important
provisions
supporting
South
Carolina’s
ports
as
part
of
the
Senate
Environment
and
Public
Works
Committee’s
markup
of
the
America’s
Water
Infrastructure
Act.
The
first
provision
begins
the
process
of
updating
and
modernizing
the
benefit-cost
analysis
used
by
the
Office
of
Management
and
Budget
(OMB)
and
the
U.S.
Army
Corps
of
Engineers
to
evaluate
the
economic
benefits
and
cost
apportionment
of
water
resource
projects.
The
current
benefit-cost
analysis
is
outdated
and
inconsistent,
and
does
not
properly
take
into
account
today’s
modern
construction
and
planning
methods.
Changes
to
the
formula
will
help
lead
to
more
accurate
project
planning,
quicker
completion
dates,
and
reduced
costs
for
taxpayers.
A
second
provision
helps
to
ensure
that
the
federal
government
fully
honors
its
share
of
the
costs
for
water
resources
projects.
If
a
non-federal
partner,
for
example
the
state
of
South
Carolina,
covers
the
federal
costs
for
a
project
when
federal
dollars
have
not
yet
been
appropriated,
there
is
currently
no
legal
requirement
for
the
federal
government
to
repay
the
non-federal
partner.
This
provision
will
require
federal
reimbursement
in
these
circumstances,
thereby
bolstering
the
accountability
and
reliability
of
federal
cost-share
agreements.
“I
am
excited
to
secure
these
two
important
provisions
for
South
Carolina
ports,”
Senator
Scott
said.
“We
know
that
on
a
level
playing
field,
South
Carolina
will
compete,
and
win,
against
anyone,
and
taking
steps
toward
modernizing
the
BCR
is
a
big
win
for
our
state.
Both
of
these
provisions
will
help
keep
more
projects
on
time
and
within
their
budgets.”
“Proud
to
work
with
Senator
Scott
to
secure
these
provisions
that
credit
the
State
of
South
Carolina’s
critical
financial
contributions
to
Port
expansion,"
Senator
Graham
said.
"South
Carolina
and
the
Southeast
have
much
to
gain
by
the
passage
of
these
important
changes. Tim
and
I
will
continue
working
together
see
these
changes
through.”
The
America’s
Water
Infrastructure
Act
will
next
head
to
the
full
Senate
for
a
vote.
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