THE ``NATIONAL LEVEE SAFETY
PROGRAM ACT OF 2005''
January 31, 2006
U.S. House of Representatives
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that prior to the end of the 1st
Session of the 109th Congress, Subcommittee Ranking Member EDDIE
BERNICE JOHNSON, Chairman DON YOUNG, Ranking Member JIM OBERSTAR,
and I introduced H.R. 4650, the ``National Levee Safety Program Act
of 2005.''
We have seen in the Gulf Region what can happen when hurricane and
flood protection infrastructure is inadequate or fails to perform.
The National Inventory of Dams shows that 45 percent of all Federal
dams are at least 50 years old; and that 80 percent of them are at
least 30 years old.
We know less about the status and capabilities of our levees. We do
not know how many levees there are in the United States, we do not
know how old they are, and in many cases we do not know who
constructed them or who is responsible for their operation and
maintenance. There has never been a national inventory of levees.
Over the decades, levees have been built by different entities, at
different times, and to different standards. They have been linked
together to provide a protective system for a city, but with such a
mixture of conditions, the true level of protection may be in doubt.
Every day the Nation's engineers and scientists learn more about the
reliability and limitations of dams and levees. New techniques and
materials are discovered in the laboratories. Without investments in
infrastructure, we cannot benefit from what we have learned.
What is the condition of our hurricane and flood protection
infrastructure? What should it be? Do we need to make policy changes
to be sure that we are making the best investments of taxpayer
dollars? Before we make a massive investment of taxpayer dollars, we
need to do an inventory of levees across the United States.
That is why today we are introducing the ``National Levee Safety
Program Act'', to get an inventory of levees in the United States
and work with the States to encourage them to develop their own
levee safety programs.
We have worked closely with members on both sides of the aisle and
the various groups to advance the goal of improving the
infrastructure in the most cost effective manner. We have received
favorable feedback from diverse parties. The National Levee Safety
Program Act of 2005 embraces innovative solutions for these parties
and I urge members to support this legislation.
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