Barbara Boxer: “I am going to read part of this letter. He says: Our work to restore structural integrity to our levee system began over…”

“I am going to read part of this letter. He says: Our work to restore structural integrity to our levee system began over a year ago. We cannot wait for a disaster to strike and must use the lessons of Katrina and act now. Prior to Katrina, New Orleans had a 250-year level of flood protection. And then the Governor says: Sacramento has 100-year level of flood protection. That is optimistic. Most experts tell us that it is an 85-year level. And whether it is 85 years or 100 years, it is the lowest of any major city in the U.S. The Governor writes: It is only a matter of time before there is a significant levee breach or system failure. This is important for the Senator from Oklahoma to hear. I know he has been very gracious in filling me in on this and saying: I didn't go after your other items but just this one. But the fact is, this one is as important as all the rest. The Corps has told us they need these funds to move forward. Here is what the Governor says: Such [a flooding] event would flood valuable farmland that produces food for [our] entire nation. I say to my friend from Oklahoma, please, listen to us, because the food supply for the entire Nation is at stake, according to Governor Schwarzenegger, Senator Feinstein, myself, and a bipartisan delegation in the Congress. The Governor says: All of Sacramento and other Sacramento Valley towns would be flooded.…”