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Obama Urges Congress to Pass Bill to Strengthen Alpine Dam, Prevent Increased Flooding

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Obama Press Office 202-228-5566

Heavy floods last week forced many Rockford and Winnebago County residents to evacuate

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today urged the Congress to quickly pass the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (WRDA) conference report, which would provide resources to strengthen and repair the Alpine Dam at Keith Creek in the Rock River Basin. Last week, heavy rains caused destructive flooding in Rockford and Winnebago County – forcing many residents to evacuate. In March, Obama urged the Committee on Environment and Public Works to accept numerous Illinois priorities in the WRDA bill, including the Alpine Dam project.

“As Rockford and Winnebago County residents recover from the destruction caused by last week’s flooding, we must ensure our communities can not only rebuild homes and repair infrastructure, but also safeguard themselves from future natural disasters,” said Senator Obama. “The legislation currently before the Senate will provide Illinois water infrastructure priorities with the resources required to reinforce our dams, locks, and ecosystem restoration projects from extreme flooding. I hope we can address our country’s infrastructure needs when Congress resumes in September.”

Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed the WRDA conference report, but the Senate failed to consider the bill before the August recess.