"After witnessing the disaster in New Orleans, we now realize more than ever the critical role water infrastructure plays in our homeland defense," said Congressman Berry. "Of all the lessons we have learned from Katrina, one stands out clear in my mind. We need to establish new priorities in our budget process that recognize the importance of the Army Corps of Engineers. A smart investment in prevention can go a long way in saving lives, buildings, and money down the road."

Today's hearing was the first of a two-part discussion of the Corps role in the recovery and rebuilding process from Hurricane Katrina. The Subcommittee is expected to hold a second hearing to discuss plans for keeping New Orleans safe from future natural disasters.

One of the problems addressed during the hearing is the cost benefit analysis formula used by the Office of Management and Budget to determine the value of Corps projects. The formula attempts to monetize the benefits and costs of flood control projects to decide which projects provide the greatest net benefit to society. Cost-benefit analysis is often criticized for its failure to recognize immeasurable benefits such as the value of a human life.

"We should be careful before we trust outdated benefits-to-cost ratios, especially when there are lives at stake," said Congressman Berry. "Our number one priority in determining adequate protection should be saving lives."

The Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee has sole jurisdiction over funding for the Army Corps of Engineers. The subcommittee is responsible for funding projects that reduce damage from floods and storms, facilitate commercial navigation, and restore aquatic ecosystems

A copy of Congressman Berry's statement from the hearing is included below.

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Statement of Congressman Marion Berry

House Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing

September 28, 2005

MR. BERRY - I want to thank Chairman Hobson for holding today's hearing in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and for allowing me to give opening remarks to our distinguished panel. I also want to thank Lt. General Strock and Assistant Secretary Woodley for coming before this subcommittee so we can learn more about the needs and capabilities of the Army Corps of Engineers.

Before we begin today's hearing, I think it is fitting that we recognize the great work the Corps has done to relieve New Orleans of flood water and broken levees. Thanks to excellent leadership and a dedicated team of engineers, the Corps has far exceeded the country's expectations by pumping water out of New Orleans in a matter of days rather than months. I am confident that the city is in good hands as we move forward in the rebuilding process.

As someone who has lived my entire life in the Mississippi Delta region, I have a great appreciation for the work of the Army Corps of Engineers. I have seen the Corps build a network of water infrastructure throughout the Mississippi River that keeps entire cities safe from flooding and supports a vast shipping industry that contributes billions of dollars to our economy. There is no question that the Corps play a critical role in the Mississippi Delta region.

In recent weeks, this country has developed a new appreciation for the role of the Corps of Engineers. We have witnessed the disaster of a serious levee break, and we realize the critical role water infrastructure plays in our homeland defense. But amidst all of the lessons we learned in the aftermath of Katrina, one stands out clear in my mind. We need to establish new priorities in our budget process that recognize the importance of the Army Corps of Engineers. A smart investment in prevention can go a long way in saving lives, buildings, and money down the road.   

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of cities and towns throughout this country that are susceptible to the rage of mother nature. No matter how much planning, mitigation, and preparation we do, a natural disaster will come again and it will do vast amounts of damage and destruction. While we can=t completely eliminate the impacts of nature, this tragedy reminds us that we must reassess our priorities to lessen its impact.

I hope Hurricane Katrina causes every member of Congress to reflect on the benefits and needs of the Corps. We need to find out what went wrong, what went right, and how we can better prepare for the future. In a disaster of this magnitude, there will inevitably be things that went wrong. It is how we use these lessons that will be the true test of this Congress and this Committee. 

I encourage those from the Corps to answer our questions honestly and not fall back to Atowing the line@ of ANY Administration. I am afraid we may find that trusting accountants who sit in a back room at the Office of Management and Budget is equivalent to putting the cart before the horse. Corps policy should not be come down to arbitrary decisions on where we can save a dollar here and there. We cannot expect to do 50% of the maintenance and expect flood control and navigation structures to work at their optimum level. 

The Corps serves the citizens of this country well. But we should be careful before we trust outdated Benefits to Cost ratios, especially when lives are at stake. It is true that a levee built just 5ft high might hold back water 95% of the time. But what about the cost in lives and property for those events that push the water over the levee? Every last inch on a levee or flood wall is critical to the people who live behind it.

Levees keep our citizens safe from floods but at the same time tend to foster forgetfulness. I hope this tragedy serves as a reminder to all of us in this country that something very powerful and dangerous lies quietly behind the levees. If we do not properly maintain them, mother nature will remind us the hard way of why we should.