Murphy Fights for Key 8th District Priorities to Rebuild from Past Floods and Prevent Damage from Future Floods for Communities Along the Delaware

(Washington, D.C.) – This week, Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th District) continued his effort to tackle flood damage prevention and repair. In two bills –the Agriculture Appropriations bill and Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) – passed by the House of Representatives, Rep. Murphy fought for key 8th District priorities relating to flooding. In the Agriculture Appropriations Bill, Rep. Murphy led the effort to restore funding for the Small Watershed Program and Emergency Watershed Protection Program. This is a nationwide effort, but Rep. Murphy decided to fight for these projects after funding for the Neshaminy Watershed was eliminated. These programs were zeroed out by President Bush in his budget for fiscal year 2008 and Rep. Murphy, along with four other members of Congress from both political parties and across the country, fought to restore $37 million in flood prevention money. He was joined by Reps. Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and Jerry Moran (R-KS). In the Water Resources Development Act, Congressman Murphy pushed for the authorization of flood damage studies along the Southampton Creek Watershed and other studies, including Army Corps of Engineers studies. The 8th District municipalities and locales included in the WRDA are Solebury Township, Otter Creek Watershed, Little Neshaminy Creek, Lake Luxembourg, Unami Creek and the Yardley Aqueduct.

“For families living along the Delaware River, floods are an annual threat. I am proud to have fought for these funds and studies which will help with repairs of past floods and prevention future damages,” said Congressman Patrick Murphy. “While the passage of these bills does not mean the immediate start to these projects, the bipartisan acceptance of these important pieces of legislation is a critical step toward helping 8th District families battle flooding.”

“The studies will provide long-term solutions for the municipalities who face this challenge every year and hopefully these funds can be put to good use to protect homes along the Delaware,” added Murphy.

Murphy Leads Bipartisan Charge for More Funding for Watershed and Flood Prevention Money. Patrick Murphy led a bipartisan group of five members of Congress to secure Watershed and Flood Prevention funds that were zeroed out by President Bush. The funds these members garnered affects the entire country but in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, these funds have been used in the past by local flood agencies to remove flood prone homes and businesses from flood zones, elevating properties to eliminate flood damage, and flood proofing additional structures. This critical program funds both the Small Watershed Program and the Emergency Watershed Protection Program. These programs are vital tools for local governments and organizations in combating and preventing flood disasters.

The Agricultural Appropriations Bill Also Addresses

• Supporting Conservation. Restores programs including the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, Resource Conservation and Development, and the watershed programs.
• Transforming Our Energy Future. Nearly doubles funding for renewable energy loans and grants to businesses to grow our economy, create new jobs, lower energy prices, and reduce global warming. The bill provides resources for research, aid to farmers and ranchers, and loans to businesses.
• Clean Water. The bill provides for rural water and waste disposal grants. More than 3 million households in the rural America continue to have inadequate or no water or sewer service.
• Strengthening Food Safety and Food Labeling. The bill also tackles food safety, including federal meat inspections and investing in research. It also prohibits imported poultry products from China, and sets a timeline for USDA to implement critical country of origin labeling for our meat supply.
• Better Community Facilities. Provides significant increases to grants and loans to rural areas for critical community facilities, such as health care, educational, public safety and day care facilities.
• Access to Technology to Connect Globally. The bill provides an increase in distance learning and telemedicine grants to assist rural communities in gaining access to improved educational resources, and assist hospitals and health care centers in gaining access to improved medical resources. It also doubles the broadband grant program.
• Affordable Housing and Homeownership. The bill funds loans to provide housing to low-income families in rural areas, with no increase in fees, to provide approximately 38,000 families with homeownership opportunities.

For Immediate Release, August 3, 2007
CONTACT: Adam Abrams, (202) 225-4276