Kanjorski Includes $50 Million Solomon Creek Flood Control Project in House Version of Water Bill

Wilkes-Barre, Pa. - Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) today joined with representatives of Sen. Arlen Specter and Sen. Rick Santorum, Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton, the Luzerne County Commissioners, and other state and local officials at Regent Street Bridge to announce that the House version of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) includes a $50 million authorization for the Solomon Creek Flood Control Project.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had initially determined that a flood control project at Solomon Creek was not economically justified as an independent project. However, the Corps determined that Solomon Creek is linked to the watershed protected by the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project. As of June 2004, Congressman Kanjorski had secured a total of more than $130 million in federal funds for the levee-raising project. 

"I am pleased to announce that the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act includes the authorization of federal money for flood control at Solomon Creek.  After touring this area last September and seeing firsthand the devastation wreaked by Tropical Depression Ivan, I was determined to find a way to federally fund flood control in this area," Congressman Kanjorski said. "I am confident that Sen. Specter and Sen. Santorum are working diligently to ensure the project is included in the final Senate version of the bill."

 "This project is a perfect example of the renewed cooperation between all levels of government from the federal level all the way to the city.  The flooding of the Solomon Creek Basin area is a serious issue that has affected all of our residents and businesses in the South Wilkes-Barre area for the past 50 years. The City of Wilkes-Barre would like to thank Congressman Kanjorski, Senator Santorum and Senator Specter for listening to the needs of the area's residents and providing much needed assistance to prevent future devastation in the Solomon Creek area," said Mayor Leighton. 

Congressman Kanjorski participated in a meeting of local, state and federal officials in Washington in late July to discuss the Solomon Creek Flood Control Project.

WRDA, or H.R. 2864, authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to work on projects such as flood control, dam safety, water supply, recreation, and environmental restoration and protection. The U.S. House of Representatives passed WRDA on July 14 by a vote of 406-14.

The bill now goes to the Senate. Once the Senate passes its version, it goes to conference committee and comes back to the House and Senate for approval. After that, the bill goes to the President to sign into law.

- 30 -