Fortenberry Announces House Passage of
Energy and Water Appropriations Bill
Legislation funds over $17 million of Fortenberry’s requests for 1st District projects

Washington, DC - Congressman Jeff Fortenberry announced today that the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, containing over $17 million in requested funding for 1st District projects, passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 312 to 112. Congressman Fortenberry voted in favor of the legislation. The legislation now awaits consideration by the Senate.

“I am pleased to announce that the Energy and Water Appropriations bill passed today by the House contains over $17 million in funding I requested for 1st District projects. This funding will be used to improve flood control efforts, to restore environmentally sensitive wetlands, and to protect drinking water supplies from flood contamination. These are important projects, and this funding represents a smart investment of federal resources into Nebraska.”

The Energy and Water Appropriations bill contains funding for the following projects:

•Lincoln, Antelope Creek Flood Damage Reduction Project-- $9,000,000

•Western Sarpy-Clear Creek Flood Damage Reduction -- $6,000,000

•Sand Creek Environmental Restoration Project -- $1,700,000

•Fremont Section 205 Flood Control Study --$160,000

•Schuyler Section 205 Flood Control Study --$150,000

The Antelope Creek Flood Damage Reduction Project is a partnership between the City of Lincoln, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to reduce flooding threats to over 800 dwellings and 1,200 floodplain residents.

The Western Sarpy-Clear Creek Flood Damage Reduction seeks to protect drinking water supplies that supply up to 50% of Nebraska’s population from contamination due to flooding.

The Sand Creek Environmental Restoration Project seeks to restore several historic wetlands and add to the national wetlands inventory.

The Fremont Section 205 Flood Control Study funding represents the federal share needed to complete feasibility planning needed to strengthen existing levees that protect south Fremont.

The Schuyler Section 205 Flood Control Study funding represents the federal share needed to continue planning for the mitigation in 40% of the city that is expected to be designated “flood plain” by FEMA.

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