Congressman Markwayne Mullin (OK-2) was selected to be a conferee for the upcoming Conference Committee on water infrastructure reform. H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 (WRRDA), was approved with overwhelming bipartisan support in the House by a vote of 417-3. The Senate has its own version of water infrastructure reform, which has resulted in the two chambers coming together for a Conference Committee.

Mullin was one of only five freshmen selected to serve on the Conference Committee.

“The path WRRDA has taken thus far is a testament to true bipartisanship,” said Mullin. “When members sit down and work together, we can arrive at reasonable and rational solutions. Being selected to serve on the Conference Committee comes with great responsibility and I look forward to representing the state of Oklahoma as we move forward in reforming our nation’s water infrastructure system.”

The Conference Committee is made up of 36 members—8 from the Senate and 28 from the House. Conferees are selected based off of their experiences and areas of expertise to discuss, debate and determine the final form of a piece of legislation.

Congressman Mullin serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that drafted H.R. 3080. Mullin is the only Oklahoman on the committee and saw to fruition many WRRDA provisions that positively affect the state of Oklahoma.  

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster noted the merit of Mullin’s presence during the WRRDA process and commended him for his selection as a conferee.

“Congressman Mullin has worked tirelessly on WRRDA and has been a great advocate for true reform,” said Shuster.  “I congratulate him on his selection as a conferee, where he will provide a business perspective and a common sense approach.”

Additional information on WRRDA compiled by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure can be found at http://1.usa.gov/175GOVU.

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