IFPTE Local 561’s Mike Arendt on Capitol Hill Talking WRDA Reauthorization

IFPTE Local 561 Steward and IFPTE Federal Caucus Legislative Chair, Mike Arendt, joined IFPTE Legislative Director, Faraz Khan, on Capitol Hill this week to meet with lawmakers and staff regarding the reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).

WRDA, which authorizes funding for the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), impacts the working conditions and funding that impacts thousands of IFPTE represented jobs. Khan commented on this week’s meetings: “Mike and I had a series of very productive meetings with staff from several offices, including from the House Transportation Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which are currently working on crafting this very important bill. Our meetings were laser focused on the issues impacting Army Corps federal workers, particularly those represented by IFPTE.”

Arendt, who has been IFPTE’s lead legislative advocate on WRDA issues for many years, also commented: “It is very important that IFPTE inform the staff and lawmakers of our major concerns and suggestions pertaining to WRDA, particularly as it relates to the workforce. Top of the list for this WRDA bill is our desire to put a stop to the Army Corps efforts to remove on-site personnel from our nation’s hydroelectric and navigational locks and dams and replace them with remote operations. This is dangerous for our nation and raises many issues, including those related to homeland and national security, commerce, and jobs.”

IFPTE will continue to work on WRDA as it moves through the legislative process.