The Water Resources Development Act is expected to pass in Congress this year. That’s according to Waterways Council Vice President Deb Calhoun. She’s hoping the Senate can get the measure done today, before they leave for the holiday recess.

She says the Senate measure contains several components to upgrade the U.S. inland waterway system and that will also bring it in line with recent improvements on the Panama Canal.

Calhoun says even if the Senate doesn’t get the measure passed before the Holiday break, it should be completed yet this year.

The Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Senator Jim Inhofe is pushing Senate leaders to take up the bill before the summer recess. The Senate legislation that passed out of committee, on a 19 to 1 vote, includes $4.5 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water resource projects.