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Congressman Jay Inslee is requesting the following policy language inclusions and projects that would benefit the 1st Congressional District:

• Requesting Section 214 of the WRDA of 2000 language be made permanent, which allows the Secretary of the Army to accept and expend funds contributed by non-Federal public entities and to expedite the processing of permits. Section 214 has allowed local governments to move forward with vital infastructure and ecosystem restoration projects. Section 214 is currently being used by over 41 public agencies in 20 Corps districts and is authorized through December 31, 2009.
  
• Requesting full access to annual revenues from Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT). In 1986, Congress established the HMT for deep draft coastal ports and harbors, which was designed to provide 100% of the cost of operations and maintenance, primarily dredging, of the nation’s deep draft and coastal ports and harbors. HMT revenue is not being fully spent. Allowing access to all annual revenues in the HMTF will help address major transportation funding issues for our nation’s ports and harbors.
  
• Authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to collaborate with the Lake Ballinger/McAleer Creek Forum (Forum) to implement the Forum's Strategic Action Plan, including efforts to address: flood protection, ecosystem restoration, and water quality. The Forum includes: City of Edmonds, City of Mountlake Terrace, City of Shoreline, City of Lynnwood, City of Lake Forest Park and Snohomish County. Total funds authorized for project: $1.2 million.
  
• Authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to collaborate on a feasibility study for Mud Mountain Dam with the Cascade Water Alliance, a non-profit organization comprised of the cities of Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Issaquah and Tukwila, and Covington Water District, the Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District, and Skyway Water and Sewer District to provide safe, clean and reliable water to its almost 400,000 residents and more than 22,000 businesses. Currently, the Corps authority limits the operation of the Mud Mountain Dam to flood control. While this remains a critical issue in the entire White/Puyallup River basin, the project’s partners believe there are other key needs that the Corps could address, in addition to flood control, through a study of multipurpose operations of Mud Mountain Dam. A feasibility study for the multipurpose operations at Mud Mountain Dam could help address and protect fish, in-stream flows, water supply as well as the communities from flooding.