Transportation & Infrastructure

Two years ago, I founded the Congressional Levee Caucus to call needed attention and garner support from other congressional members on issues pertaining to our national levee systems and those they protect. The Congressional Levee Caucus will serve as an informal, bipartisan group of members dedicated to educating others on levee issues and the protection they provide to millions of Americans. We will work toward common legislative goals aimed at preserving our levee system and defending those individuals whom levees guard.

As the people living along the Mississippi River are all too aware, historic flooding severely in recent years weakened our levee systems and carried an estimated 60 million cubic yards of sediment down this waterway. 

Although the high waters have since receded, the unprecedented sediment levels remain—putting American goods at a competitive disadvantage. In fact, each foot of lost draft costs shippers an extra $1 million per ship. When given that the sediment in New Orleans has built up five feet above normal levels, one doesn’t have to have a Ph.D in economics to realize what effect this is having on our economy.

This flooding not only highlighted a need for dredging, but also stressed a need to repair the damaged levees and floodways along the Mississippi.  The Corps of Engineers estimates that on this river alone, it will have to spend an additional $1 billion to $2 billion to mend levees and floodways tattered by flood waters.  This is work that must be done to ensure these levees can shield Americans from future floods.

It is our responsibility in Congress to limit further economic harm by including essential funding in the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill for dredging the Mississippi and strengthening the levee systems that are in place to protect thousands of households and businesses.

I know I am far from the only Member speaking out for the Mississippi River and its maintenance needs, but where I may differ is in my belief that this additional funding should require an offset.