U.S. House Passes $8.2 Billion Water Projects Bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has bucked some of the outside conservative groups that stoked the partial government shutdown and passed an $8.2 billion bill mapping out plans for dams, harbors, river navigation and other water projects for the coming decade.

The House voted 417-3 Wednesday to approve the measure six years after the last water bill was enacted. The bill must now be reconciled with a similar Senate measure passed in May before it can be sent to President Barack Obama.

Democrats and Republicans say they back the measure because it will spur job growth and encourage much needed investment in the nation's infrastructure.

Conservative groups, including FreedomWorks, Taxpayers for Common Sense and Heritage Action for America, had opposed the bill saying it doesn't do enough to block unneeded projects.