For Release: Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Contact: David Gillies: 202-225-5661

HOUSE OVERRIDES BUSH WRDA VETO

Washington - U.S. Congressman Jerry F. Costello (D-IL), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today voted to override President Bush’s veto of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), legislation that authorizes water projects overseen by the Army Corps of Engineers. Usually approved every two years, a WRDA bill has not made it into law since 2000, and the House easily voted to enact the bill over the President’s veto.

The bill includes $3.6 billion for construction of seven new locks and environmental restoration work on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers as well as numerous important projects for the 12th Congressional District and the nation.

“This is a critical investment in the economy and future of America,” said Costello. “I hope our action today sends a strong message to President Bush that he cannot continue to spend hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraq while ignoring the infrastructure needs of the United States. I look forward to the Senate taking similar action and seeing WRDA become law.”

12th Congressional District projects include:

• Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers – authorizes $3.6 billion for construction of seven new locks and environmental restoration work.
• Great Rivers Research Center - authorizes $2 million to study river ecology, develop watershed and river management studies and educate students and the public on river issues.
• Southwestern and Southern Illinois – authorizes $40 million for environmental infrastructure assistance.
• Wood River Levee - authorizes $17,220,000 total for reconstruction.
• East St. Louis and Vicinity - authorizes $208,260,000 for ecosystem restoration.
• Kinkaid Lake - authorizes sediment remediation.
• Kinkaid Lake – included as part of watershed management program.
• Mississippi River between the Ohio and Missouri Rivers - maintain river system while also enhancing fish and wildlife habitat in the Middle Mississippi River.
• Kaskaskia River Basin - authorizes $20 million for a comprehensive maintenance plan.
• Levee Rehabilitation Pilot Program - authorizes $50 million for reconstruction of regional levees, including:

  1. Prairie Du Pont Levee and Sanitary District
  2. Fish Lake Drainage and Levee District
  3. Clear Creek Drainage
  4. Fort Chartres and Ivy Landing
  5. Goose Pond Pump Station (Cairo)
  6. Cottonwood Slough Pump Station (Cairo)
  7. 10th and 28th Street Pump Station (Cairo)
  8. Cairo Mainline Levee

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