I was particularly pleased to read in the information provided to the Senate Armed Services Committee that General Flowers believes the Port of New York and New Jersey 50-foot deepening project to be one of the most "prominent" projects for the nation's navigation system.
The Port of New York and New Jersey is extremely important to the region and the nation. The 50-foot project for the Port of New York and New Jersey is the largest project anticipated for our region in the history of the Port. It is well worth the investment, Mr. Chairman.
Port projects can be compared with highway construction. When trucks became larger and heavier, we improved the highway system to accommodate the new truck standards. We need to do the same for navigation. Now we need to deepen our channels to accommodate the new ship standards.
Improving the nation's infrastructure also helps our economy. Up-to-date infrastructure allows for easier movement of goods, helping manufacturers get raw materials and to ship finished goods to market.
The Port of New York and New Jersey is not a local port, but the Nation's Port. It is located in the center of the largest regional market in the nation. It is the largest container port on the East Coast and the third largest in the United States and serves thirty-four percent of the population of this nation.
I was also pleased to learn that General Flowers supports so-called "quality-of-life" initiatives that make life better for our citizens. Although General Flowers listed only military quality of life projects, I would argue that shore protection and flood control projects are also "quality of life" initiatives.
Completed flood control and shore protection projects let property owners in flood prone and coastal areas rest much easier. If designed properly, they can significantly improve the overall quality of life in many communities.
On the other hand, I hope that General Flowers will ensure that structural solutions to flooding do not become the first ones we pull off of the shelf simply because they are the ones with which the Army Corps has the most experience.
We have seen how some of the traditional approaches to prevent flooding take too heavy a toll on the environment or simply encourage additional development. I'm pleased that this Administration is moving toward non-structural alternatives through the Challenge 21 Initiative, and I urge General Flowers to continue these efforts.
I would also argue that environmental restoration projects are "quality of life" projects for our environment as well as our citizens. One of these projects, which the Corps has designed is the restoration of Lower Cape May Meadows in New Jersey, which will improve a vital resting area along the Atlantic flyway as well as protect fish and wildlife habitat. The Corps planned projects in Barnegat Bay will restore the habitat for many species of juvenile and harvestable fish and shellfish. And the New York Harbor Estuary program will reduce pollution and protect the natural ecosystem.
Finally, I hope that General Flowers will pay close attention to improving the economic analyses that are prepared by the Corps to justify projects before they can go forward. I believe that one of the ways this can be done is to develop stronger civilian control over the operations of this agency.
I am very interested in hearing how General Flowers hopes to work more closely with the Secretary of the Army and the Assistant Secretary for Civil Works to ensure that only projects that meet the most stringent benefit-cost requirements are approved.
Thank you Mr. Chairman.