A Weekly e-Newsletter from
Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA)

April 18, 2008

Dear Friends,

This week, the Army Corps of Engineers announced its recommendations for modifying the current Interim Operations Plan at the Jim Woodruff Dam that affects the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee- Flint (ACF) River Basin and ends in Florida. 

If the new plan is approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this modification puts in place an operations plan to address low/high flow issues, as well as a much-needed drought contingency plan.  The new plan allows flow requirements to be adjusted seasonally and gives Georgia maximum ability to store water during times of the year we have rain to store and the new plan will allow the amount of storage to be based on inflows and the status of the system.  We’re still reviewing the Corps’ announcement, and are waiting on modeling to see its impact on the basin.  We are optimistic that it will improve the situation for all users in the basin.  The recommendation will now go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to issue a biological opinion within 45 days.

Senator Chambliss and I have fought for years to get the Army Corps of Engineers to update its water control manuals that control both the ACF and Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa (ACT) river basins.  In 2006 the Secretary of the Army verbally committed to us to begin to update the water control manuals on January 2, 2007. 

On August 1, 2007, the Senator Chambliss and I met with the new Secretary of the Army, Pete Geren, as well as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works John Paul Woodley, Lieutenant General Robert L. Van Antwerp and General Counsel Craig Schmauder. At the meeting, Geren indicated his desire to give mediation time to work before starting the update of the water control manuals. However, Geren also committed to updating the water control manuals if and when mediation broke down and was not making progress.  On September 28, 2007, after judges involved in the mediation announced that the talks had broken down, we sent a letter to Geren strongly urging him to honor his pledge to update the water control plan.

On October 18, 2007, I received some positive news from Secretary Geren with regards to Georgia’s water crisis. Secretary Geren committed to me by telephone and in writing that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin to update the water control manual for the drought-ravaged ACT River Basin. Senator Chambliss and I have been urging the Corps for at least two years to update the water manuals governing this river basin as well as the ACF River Basin.

On March 2, 2008, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne and Council on Environmental Quality Chairman Jim Connaughton sent a letter to the governors of Alabama, Georgia and Florida. While acknowledging that more progress has been made over the last few months than in the previous 18 years, Kempthorne and Connaughton said the governors have been unable to cross the finish line with an agreement.

In the letter, Kempthorne and Connaughton told the governors that the federal government would begin a process to review interim operations that would replace the current program before it expires on June 1, 2008. Federal agencies may subsequently issue further revisions as may be warranted by federal law, changing hydrological conditions and new information. Any future changes in interim operations will be necessary only until the water control plans and manuals are revised.

This week’s news appears to be a good first step in confronting these issues.  The Corps committed to updating the water control manual for the ACT River Basin in October 2007 and I eagerly await those results.  I hope that soon the three Governors will come back to the table so the states can take advantage of the productive talks and agree on a resolution.

Delta Air Lines Merger
Also this week, Delta Air Lines announced it would combine with Northwest Airlines to form a new airline to be called Delta and headquartered in Atlanta.  Officials with both airlines said there will be no layoffs of front-line employees and no immediate hub closings.  In addition, the new airline will provide employees with greater job security, an equity stake in the combined airline, and a more stable platform for future growth in the face of significant economic pressures from rising fuel costs and intense competition. 

As the merger is understood now, all of the conditions I laid out to support a Delta merger appear to be met.  These conditions include that Delta must remain Delta, must remain in Atlanta and must be a good deal for Georgia and the employees of Delta.  Last year I was opposed to USAirways trying to take over Delta at a time when Delta was vulnerable. Today, Delta is a strong airline and I believe Delta is making a deal for the right reason, rather than defensive reasons. While there may be opposition to the merger, I hope that as the details come out, people will see the deal is in the best interests of the country, travelers and the states involved.

Small communities throughout the United States will enjoy enhanced access to more destinations worldwide while customers also will benefit from the combined carriers’ complementary route networks, which together will offer people greater choice, competitive fares and a superior travel experience to more cities than any other airline.  This merger will further enhance Atlanta as a gateway to the world and have a lasting positive effect on Georgia’s overall economy.

Farm Bill
In December 2007, the Senate passed a Farm Bill that continues to provide a safety net for farmers, increases conservation programs, provides incentives for renewable energy production and establishes a permanent disaster program.  I believe the Farm Bill is a win for rural America and for farmers in Georgia, where agriculture remains the number one industry in the state.  The House has passed its own version of a Farm Bill and the two chambers are now working to reconcile the differences between their two bills. I hope the two chambers will be able to reach an agreement quickly. The current extension of the 2002 farm law was to expire today, but yesterday, citing significant progress, the Senate sent a one week extension request to President Bush, pushing the date back to April 25.  Much of the credit goes to Senator Chambliss for his strong work in crafting this legislation and for making sure that we continue to meet the needs of farmers in Georgia and the Southeast.                                                                                                       

Rural Policing Institute Funding
On Thursday, Senator Chambliss and I, along with 17 other Senators, sent a letter urging members of the Senate Appropriations Committee to provide $5 million in funding for the Rural Policing Institute for Fiscal Year 2009.  Last year Senator Chambliss and I co-sponsored legislation to create a special, rural-focused law enforcement training initiative that would be administered by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, known as FLETC, located in Glynco, Ga. 

If funded, the Rural Policing Institute will assess the challenges confronting rural and tribal law enforcement agencies; develop and provide training programs specific to their needs; and conduct outreach to ensure they are aware of new training opportunities. 

By having a program where we can send instructors to these rural police departments, we maximize our training capabilities and ensure that these officers are able to receive on-the-job training without reducing manpower.  This program is a win-win for our law enforcement personnel, for FLETC and for the American taxpayer. It is crucial to communities across the nation that we fund this program.

What’s on Tap for Next Week?

The Senate will debate legislation on veterans’ benefits for Filipino vets who served in World War II and legislation on employment discrimination.

Sincerely,
Johnny Isakson