Good Morning Madame Chairwoman and colleagues on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. I thank you for holding this hearing today to discuss the President’s proposed budget for the civil works program of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and also to discuss the implementation of last year’s Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) bill. As my colleagues are aware, the President’s fiscal year 2009 budget request for the Army Corps of Engineers is $4.741 billion, an amount that represents a decrease of $851 million from the FY08-enacted level of $5.592 billion. I am concerned about this decrease in light of the passage of WRDA 2007 and the growing infrastructure needs of our nation. This hearing is a good first step, as we open dialogue to budgetary concerns and the needs of our nation’s civil works program provided by the Army Corps of Engineers. I was glad to see the passage of WRDA in 2007, legislation that was long overdue. Today, I look forward to an engaging discussion about the progress made by the WRDA reforms and the progress that remains to be seen. As we look back on the efforts we have made, I am confident that we can create a successful WRDA for 2008. Lastly, I’d like to note the good work that the Corps has been doing and is doing in my state, Virginia . Divided amongst five Army Corps districts (Baltimore, Huntington, Nashville, Wilmington, and Norfolk), Virginia has been lucky to have extremely competent and talent leaders at each outpost. Their professionalism and dedication have furthered projects across the state - from flood control projects in the City of Roanoke and Town of Grundy, to the development of Craney Island in Norfolk, to oyster restoration efforts in the Chesapeake . I have been pleased to work with all of these districts and praise their good work. Madame Chairwoman, I thank you for the opportunity to speak this morning, and for holding this important hearing.
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