WASHINGTON, D.C. – More than a year after voluntarily destroying the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will finally heed U.S. Senator Roy Blunt’s (Mo.) urgent calls to fully restore the levee by the end of this year.

“The Corps’ announcement today is great news for Southeast Missourians, and I am so pleased they finally heeded my calls to fully restore the Birds Point New Madrid Floodway this year. Families, farmers, and small businesses in the Bootheel can finally return to their daily lives and rebuild what was lost,” said Blunt.

“I thank my colleague, Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson, for her leadership on this important endeavor,” Blunt continued. “The Army Corps made a decision to destroy this levee last year, and we have long said that it is their responsibility to fully restore it as soon as possible.”

In May 2012, Blunt sent a letter to the Army Corps encouraging more focus on restoring the levee’s full protection and planning for future disaster events. Blunt also introduced an amendment that helped secure $1.7 billion for disaster relief in the FY2012 Omibus. This funding was critical in fully restoring the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway.

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