Since the first Water Resources Development Act in 1986, when we introduced rational economic criteria and equitable cost-sharing to the Federal water planning process, we have witnessed nothing short of a quiet revolution in the development of water resource projects. Much credit for that success is due to the professionalism of the Army Corps of Engineers. My friends on the Committee who were here with me then will agree that the free-booting days when the Subcommittee Chairman got two dams, the Ranking Member got one, and everyone else on the Committee got a promise -- are long over. For the past thirteen years we have reviewed and accepted authorizations for projects in a responsible manner, and should be justifiably proud.
The greatest problems with the WRDA process come only when we fail to reauthorize the legislation as we had in 1994 and then again last year. Projects are stalled. Costs increase. Three years have passed since we last passed WRDA legislation and it is time to move this bill. If we should need address WRDA again next year also, so be it. Our nation's rivers, flood plains, and harbors can stand the attention.
I would close my remarks by urging the Administration to get that Harbor Maintenance Tax proposal to us. While we all surely understand the difficulty in devising a proper and fair user fee for the maintenance of our harbors in light of the Supreme Court decision last March, our chances of establishing a sound, equitable policy diminish the longer the debate is forestalled.