James Oberstar: “First of all, we had a very clear agreement within the committee on the Democratic and Republican side not to take new…”

“First of all, we had a very clear agreement within the committee on the Democratic and Republican side not to take new items that were not in the 109th Congress Water Resources Development Act. We have vigorously adhered to that, kept a great many projects out. This proposal is not only new, but it is massive, it is huge, it is not a study of potential effects. It has very clear declarative language: the Secretary shall inventory, develop and maintain all lands, properties, projects, meaning hydroelectric projects. The language at the very outset prohibits any action that may be proposed, as is being considered along the Snake River, to remove dams for environmental purposes, and by directing the Secretary to undertake this action, creates a PAYGO issue. There is a clear budgetary consequence in that language. This motion goes well beyond the intent of the Water Resources Development Act. It goes beyond the bipartisan agreement we have in bringing this bill to the floor. It authorizes unlimited projects without consideration of environmental impacts or consideration of taxpayer expense. It impacts legislation that we already have in this bill. It goes far beyond the scope that we intended in WRDA.”