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Jun 29, 2005

SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE RULES COMMITTEE ON H.R. 2864 - WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2005

SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE RULES COMMITTEE ON
H.R. 2864 - WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2005

(in alphabetical order)

SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS

(summaries derived from information provided by sponsors)

Flake/Blumenauer #5
Amends the Mississippi River-Illinois Water Way Project, allowing construction of locks and dams to proceed only if 35 million tons of commodities are processed on average for 2007-2009 and requiring the implementation of an appointment system to schedule and prioritize barge traffic, a notification report, and a re-evaluation report.

Kind #2
Adds a new provision requiring the Secretary to make an annual report to Congress on whether the lock and dam construction and ecosystem restoration projects are being carried out at comparable rates. Inserts the words, ‘or Congress’ to clarify that Congress will share the authority with the Secretary in determining if the projects are moving forward at a comparable rate and adjust the annual funding accordingly.

Kind #3
Adds a new definition – ‘partners’- to mean the governors of the States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. The amendment directs the Secretary of the Army to consult with these partners in developing Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway System ecosystem protection projects authorized by Title VIII.

Menendez #4
Provides an authorization for the environmental restoration project in Liberty State Park, New Jersey, contingent on a favorable Chief’s report being issued for the project prior to December 31 of this year. The federal share would be $20.8 million, and the local share would be $11.2 million.

Rohrabacher #1
Allows U.S. ports to levy a container or tonnage fee on imports. To the extent this authority is used, it will shift the funding burden from American taxpayers to the foreign entities that use U.S. ports. The fees collected by the ports under this measure may only be spent on infrastructure and security related to the port that levies the fee.

Stupak #6
Directs the Secretary of the Army Corps to budget and request appropriations for operation and maintenance of harbor dredging projects based only upon criteria used for such projects in FY04.

Young (AK) #7
Manager’s amendment.
Makes technical and conforming changes to project-related provisions, and authorizes or modifies additional projects brought to the Committee’s attention following Committee action, including: Six projects based on Reports of the Chief of Engineers: Des Moines/Raccoon Rivers, Iowa, project for flood damage reduction; Port of Iberia, Louisiana, project for navigation; Raritan and Sandy Hook Bays, Union Beach, New Jersey, project for hurricane and storm damage reduction; Hocking River, Monday Creek Sub-basin, Ohio, project for environmental restoration; Pawley’s Island, South Carolina, project for hurricane and storm damage reduction; Picayune Strand, Florida, project for environmental restoration. Authorization of 8 projects or programs and modification of 7 existing projects or programs: authorization of 2 small projects for flood damage reduction and modification of 3 flood damage reduction projects; authorization of 2 small projects for emergency streambank protection; modification of 3 navigation projects; authorization of 4 environmental restoration programs and modification of 1 environmental restoration program; authorization of 5 Corps of Engineers studies and modification of 2 studies; authorization of 1 land transfer for a navigation project; modification of 3 programs related to water resources management; and authorization or modification of projects related to water resources development.


* Summaries derived from information submitted by the amendment sponsors.