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The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024 has passed including a modification to the federal cost share for the Selma Flood Risk Management and Stabilization Project to 100%.

Sen. Katie Britt, R-Montgomery, and U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Selma, secured this provision to ensure Selma’s historic buildings are maintained for future generations.

“Selma’s history—including Bloody Sunday, the courageous march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and its pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement—must be preserved so all Americans can learn from it for generations to come. Ensuring Selma’s Flood Risk Management and Stabilization project can be completed with federal funding will make all the difference to ensure this history doesn’t literally fall into the river after years of erosion along the bank of the Alabama River. I’m grateful to partner with Representative Sewell to champion the inclusion of this critical provision in the 2024 WRDA bill,” said Britt.

Passage of this provision is the latest in a years-long effort by Rep. Sewell to mitigate the risks of river erosion in downtown Selma caused by flooding. The 2022 WRDA authorized the Selma Flood Risk Management and Bank Stabilization Project. With the help of the Army Corps of Engineers, the project will reduce the risk of failure of ten historic structures along the riverbank, protect the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and provide a response plan for imminent flooding events.

“Throughout the past few years, we have been working closely with the Army Corps of Engineers to bring urgently needed resources to Selma to address the flooding and erosion challenges along the Alabama River,” said Sewell. “I am thrilled that Congress has passed my provision to increase the federal cost share for this project to 100%. This special exception will save the City of Selma more than $9 million and help ensure that this project can move forward. I thank Senator Britt for helping us get this provision across the finish line and for her steadfast commitment to Selma’s vitality.”

Congress generally sets the cost share of flood risk reduction project construction at 65% federal and 35% non-federal. However, thanks to language secured by Sewell, the 2024 WRDA includes a special exemption for the City of Selma, increasing the federal cost share to 100% and saving the City more than $9 million.

“On behalf of the City of Selma, I sincerely thank Senator Katie Britt (R) and Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D) for their fierce and effective advocacy supporting the stabilization of our riverbank. The 100% federal cost share equals millions that the City of Selma is no longer obligated to pay on the riverbank stabilization project. This is an amazing Christmas gift to the City. Again, Senator Britt and Congresswoman Terri Sewell, thank you,” said Mayor James Perkins.

Britt and Sewell have been working together for years to ensure Selma receives the support it needs. In the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act and the IY25 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, Britt advanced $850,000 in federal funding for Selma. The legislation is awaiting full Senate approval.