Mike Thompson United States Congressman - First District of California
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Congressman Thompson Advocates for Corps Funding in Stimulus

January 14, 2009

WASHINGTON— As Congress readies an economic stimulus plan, Congressman Thompson (D-CA) today spoke out on the necessity of including funding for the Army Corps of Engineers.  The Obama Administration’s original proposal included no funding for Army Corps projects.  

“The Army Corps of Engineers oversees many crucial projects in our district and across the country,” said Congressman Thompson.  “We must invest in infrastructure projects that will immediately create jobs and lay the foundation for future economic growth, and Corps projects clearly fit those criteria.”

The Corps has 282 projects currently under way where their construction capability is under funded by a combined $2.2 billion this year alone.  Fully funding this present capability would create hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country in a short period of time.  

Congressman Thompson raised the issue with Congressional Leadership last week in a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and vowed to continue to advocate for Army Corps of Engineers funding.

“Not only are these projects a great opportunity to create good paying jobs quickly, we also need to recognize the cost should we fail to invest in the levies and flood control projects the Corps helps to build.  For example, if the levies in the Sacramento Delta were to break, entire towns would be underwater and 63% of Californians would be without drinking water.  The longer we wait to address these security threats, the higher the cost will be, both in terms of dollars and in terms of lives.  I will continue to work with the Obama Administration and Congressional leadership to make sure that the Army Corps of Engineers receive funding in the stimulus package.”  

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CONTACT: Laurel Brown at (202) 225-3311, (831) 212-2550 or laurel.brown@mail.house.gov