THE ``NATIONAL LEVEE SAFETY PROGRAM ACT OF 2005''

January 31, 2006
U.S. House of Representatives

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that prior to the end of the 1st Session of the 109th Congress, Subcommittee Ranking Member EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, Chairman DON YOUNG, Ranking Member JIM OBERSTAR, and I introduced H.R. 4650, the ``National Levee Safety Program Act of 2005.''

We have seen in the Gulf Region what can happen when hurricane and flood protection infrastructure is inadequate or fails to perform.

The National Inventory of Dams shows that 45 percent of all Federal dams are at least 50 years old; and that 80 percent of them are at least 30 years old.

We know less about the status and capabilities of our levees. We do not know how many levees there are in the United States, we do not know how old they are, and in many cases we do not know who constructed them or who is responsible for their operation and maintenance. There has never been a national inventory of levees.

Over the decades, levees have been built by different entities, at different times, and to different standards. They have been linked together to provide a protective system for a city, but with such a mixture of conditions, the true level of protection may be in doubt.
Every day the Nation's engineers and scientists learn more about the reliability and limitations of dams and levees. New techniques and materials are discovered in the laboratories. Without investments in infrastructure, we cannot benefit from what we have learned.
What is the condition of our hurricane and flood protection infrastructure? What should it be? Do we need to make policy changes to be sure that we are making the best investments of taxpayer dollars? Before we make a massive investment of taxpayer dollars, we need to do an inventory of levees across the United States.

That is why today we are introducing the ``National Levee Safety Program Act'', to get an inventory of levees in the United States and work with the States to encourage them to develop their own levee safety programs.

We have worked closely with members on both sides of the aisle and the various groups to advance the goal of improving the infrastructure in the most cost effective manner. We have received favorable feedback from diverse parties. The National Levee Safety Program Act of 2005 embraces innovative solutions for these parties and I urge members to support this legislation.