STATEMENT OF SENATOR GEORGE V. VOINOVICH
COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS
INFORMATIONAL HEARING ON THE NOMINATION OF MAJOR GENERAL ROBERT B. FLOWERS TO BE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS
SEPTEMBER 14, 2000

Thank you General Flowers for participating in this informational hearing in anticipation of receiving your third star and command as Chief of Engineers for a four year period. This has been a difficult year for the Corps of Engineers. As highlighted again this week in a second series of articles in the Washington Post, many aspects of the Corps program are in the center of controversy. There are concerns about the environmental impacts of certain projects, charges that the Corps evaluation of projects is not objective, very public and acrimonious arguments about the respective roles of the Chief of Engineers and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, debates about the appropriate mission of the Corps and its growth, and arguments about the proper role of the Congress versus the Executive Branch in directing and overseeing the Corps program.

I am personally very concerned by these many allegations. As the Chairman of Transportation of Infrastructure Subcommittee, which has oversight over the civil works program of the Corps, I have met with your predecessor, and the Assistant Secretary for Civil Works, and the Secretary of the Army and extensively discussed these concerns and listened to their assessment of the challenges facing the Corps.

What is very clear to me through all of this is that national water resources needs are real and growing. We need to continue to develop and modernize our water transportation system to compete in an increasingly global economy; flooding remains a threat to many communities; the Corps infrastructure is aging and facing the need for critical maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement; and the expertise of the Corps is needed to help restore the environment.

While these needs grow, our national investment continues to decline. In constant dollar terms our Federal investment in water resources development is less than one-half of its levels in the 1960'. At the same time we are asking the Corps to do more particularly in the area of environmental restoration. The lack of investment has created a backlog of $38 billion in projects awaiting construction dollars and $450 million in deferred critical maintenance of existing projects.

-- I think that it is very important that you first investigate and define the problems facing the Corps.

-- These would include the ongoing investigation of the Upper Mississippi River, as well as many of the problems highlighted in the recent Washington Post series.

-- As I mentioned to you in my office this week, most of these problems should be handled with an Administrative view.

-- As a former Mayor and Governor, it is my belief that many of the problems can be addressed by strengthening the relationship between yourself and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works and the Secretary of the Army.

-- I also think that it is important that you develop a strategic plan for addressing the many challenges facing the Corps as the new Chief.

-- I look forward to working with you in the future on legislative solutions, where appropriate, for dealing with the many challenges ahead.