Duncan Lauds Passing of Water Resources Development Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN) announced today that the Congress has passed desperately-needed legislation containing flood control projects, environmental restoration projects, and wastewater system improvements for our Nation's aging water infrastructure.

The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) authorizes the Appropriations Committee to provide funding for the Army Corps of Engineers. The funding will allow the Corps to carry out projects that provide flood control, provide for the dredging of our Country's ports, and ensure the protection of our water supply through environmental restoration.

The legislation will now be sent to the president.

"If we do not invest in new water infrastructure projects and maintain the ones we have, we will be looking at a much bigger price tag down the road," said Duncan. "You have to look no farther than the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to see the economic damage caused by not investing in our flood control projects - not to mention the loss of life and property."

"The passage of this legislation is a huge win for the citizens of East Tennessee, and of our entire Country."

While the bill authorizes these projects, money for the projects will have to be appropriated by Congress during the fiscal year 2009 appropriations cycle.

The bill included the following projects for the Second Congressional District:

$40 million for the Blount, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Monroe and Sevier for design and construction assistance for water-related environmental infrastructure and resource protection and development projects;

$16 million for the City of Athens for wastewater infrastructure;

Support to prevent flooding and flood damage in Lenoir City and planning in consultation with Army Corps of Engineers;

$2 million for contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, for establishment and operation of the Southeastern Water Resources Institute to study sustainable development and utilization of water resources in the Southeastern United States;

$5 million for Knoxville for water supply and wastewater treatment infrastructure;

$500,000 for Knoxville for debris removal along the Tennessee River; and

$3 million for promoting safe waterways by providing TVA and other federal agencies the opportunity to enter into cooperative agreements for technical assistance that will improve lock and dam security.

Congressman Duncan is a former chairman of the Water Resources and Environmental Development Subcommittee. Under his chairmanship, the House of Representatives passed a WRDA bill twice with very little opposition, but did not pass the Senate.