PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: April 19, 2007
Contact: Abigail Shilling (202) 225-6365

Washington, D.C. – Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) announced today that the U.S. House of Representatives has authorized a federal study of the Chowan River Basin as part of H.R. 1495, the Water Resources Development Act of 2007. WRDA is a bill dedicated exclusively to authorizing the activities of the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE). The ACOE studies water issues, and designs, constructs and maintains water resources facilities across the country.

“For years, individuals and businesses in the Chowan River Basin have struggled with unpredictable and often devastating flooding in their communities. One of my highest priorities has been to authorize this study which will address the factors that are causing this unpredictability and help lay out a plan to reduce the chance of flooding in the future,” said Forbes. “I am pleased that the House has taken the first step in authorizing this project, and I am looking forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to pass a final version of this legislation.”

Congressman Forbes has been actively seeking authorization for this project for several years. Forbes recently authored a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee explaining the importance of the inclusion of the Chowan River Basin study in this year’s WRDA bill.

The study would allow the ACOE to take a critical look at the protection of water resources with an emphasis on flood control, environmental restoration, erosion control, and navigation. The study would also look at reducing future flood damages throughout the basin. The severe flooding potential has heightened from previous flooding brought by Hurricanes Dennis, Floyd, and Isabel, and most recently, the devastating floods during October of 2006.

The Senate is expected to consider their version of WRDA in the coming months. If passed in the Senate, the House and Senate will meet in conference committee to settle any differences between their respective versions of the WRDA bill. After completion of the conference committee, the bill will be sent to the President to be signed into law. Authorization is the first step in a two-part process to secure federal funding. The formal process first consists of the enactment of an authorization measure that creates or continues an agency or program; and second, the enactment of appropriations to provide funds for the authorized agency or program.
 

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