For Immediate Release

Nov. 6, 2007

Contact: Abigail McDonough

202-22506511

KANJORSKI VOTES TO OVERRIDE PRESIDENT'S VETO OF WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT

The Bill Authorizes $114.5 Million for Projects

 in Northeastern Pennsylvania

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) joined 360 of his colleagues to successfully override President Bush's veto of H.R. 1495, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).  The bill would provide authorization for three major projects in Northeastern Pennsylvania, including the $44.5 million Bloomsburg Flood Control Project, the $50 million Solomon Creek Flood Control Project, and authorization for $20 million to correct the combined sewage overflows along the Susquehanna River. 

"It's outrageous for the President to demand the restoration of a dam in Iraq, while he refuses to authorize similar projects severely needed in the U.S.," stated Congressman Kanjorski.  "President Bush neglected Pennsylvanians and all Americans by vetoing the Water Resources Development Act. I'm proud to have participated in a landslide vote in the House to override that veto."

WRDA authorizes funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to work on projects such as flood control, dam safety, water supply, recreation, and environmental restoration and protection. Congress typically passes WRDA bills every two years, but the last WRDA was passed in 2000.  The bill would affect the following projects in the 11^th district of Pennsylvania:

• Bloomsburg Flood Control Project - Includes authorization for $44.5 million to have the Army Corps of Engineers to construct levees and floodwalls in the west end of Bloomsburg to protect 12,000 residents in more than 400 homes in Bloomsburg and seven major commercial enterprises.  Substantial floods in 1936, 1972, 1975, and 2006 have cost the citizens of Bloomsburg millions of dollars in damage.
• Solomon Creek Flood Control Project - Includes authorization for $50 million to enhance flood protection for Solomon Creek in the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project.  This provision would permit the Army Corps of Engineers to construct a project to protect more than 300 homes and businesses from flooding when Solomon Creek's water level rises.  Solomon Creek overtopped its banks causing flood damages three times since 2004, most recently in November 2006.
• Correcting Combined Sewage Overflows Along Susquehanna River - Includes authorization for $20 million to correct sewer outfalls that currently release untreated sewage into the Susquehanna River during heavy rain or snowfall.  The funds are to rectify the most significant sources of combined sewage overflows which cause the discharge of untreated sewage into the Susquehanna River approximately 37 times per year during heavy rainfalls. 

The WRDA bill originally passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 381 to 40, and it passed in the U.S. Senate by a vote of 81 to 12.  The President vetoed the legislation on November 2.  Passage by a two-thirds margin in both the House and Senate is required to override the President's veto.  Because the House overrode this veto today, the bill will go back to the Senate where is expected to garner enough votes to also override the veto.

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