Vicky Hartzler: “Thank you, Representative Luetkemeyer. I rise today in support of this amendment. Like he said, this amendment is about…”

“Thank you, Representative Luetkemeyer. I rise today in support of this amendment. Like he said, this amendment is about priorities. What is important? Or better yet, who is important? I would contend that people are important, people along the Missouri River, people who are seeing their homes flooded and their livelihoods destroyed due to flooding. Crops, businesses, and homes are underwater as levees have been breached and overtopped in parts of Missouri. Now is the time to refocus our attention on what matters as we manage the Missouri River. We need to protect people and property. The President's 2012 budget, as Representative Luetkemeyer said, requested $72 million to ``recover'' the river for two birds and one fish, but only $6.1 million for operations and maintenance on the levees from Sioux City to St. Louis. Now, that's an example of wrong priorities. This amendment ensures that the Corps of Engineers continues to focus on people and keep flood control and navigation as the focus. It's time to get our priorities back and to save tax dollars while we're doing it. That's a good combination.”