|
2009 Water Resources Bill
Congress authorizes and appropriates funds for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) to conduct water resources studies and projects for navigation, flood and storm protection, ecosystem restoration, and an array of other purposes. Through periodic enactment of Water Resources Development Acts (WRDAs), Congress modifies existing authorities that the Corps already has and gives the Corps new authority to conduct studies or undertake projects that are consistent with the Corps’ mission.
WRDA projects are undertaken by the Corps of Engineers, but also require a non-federal sponsor to be responsible for local share of project financing. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure requires that Members include a letter of support from a potential non-federal sponsor for each WRDA request they submit. These letters of support do not legally obligate the non-federal entity to commit funds, but merely demonstrate that local support exists for the requested project or Army Corps authority to be included in WRDA.
It is important to note that the WRDA process only authorizes projects. It does not provide any funding. Once a project is authorized, Members of Congress must request funding for a particular project, and that the Army Corps be directed to undertake the project as a “new start,” through the annual Congressional appropriations spending bills.
The following is a list of the items that I have requested be authorized in the WRDA that Congress is expected to consider in 2010:
- To authorize the Secretary of the Army to undertake Critical Restoration Projects within the Mohawk River Watershed in New York
- To create a fund to dredge and maintain federally-chartered Shallow Draft Harbors on Lake Ontario in the State of New York.
|
