Max Baucus: “the Senate now has before it the conference report to accompany S. 640, the Water Resources Development Act of 1996. I…”

“the Senate now has before it the conference report to accompany S. 640, the Water Resources Development Act of 1996. I would like to compliment the conferees on the fine work they have done in bringing this conference report to the Senate for resolution before the 104th Congress adjourns. A great deal of work has been done by the House and Senate committees, working together, to reach this point. Everyone involved has been diligent in applying sound criteria for determining the worthiness of individual projects. I particularly want to commend the conferees for deleting the House provision that would have increased the navigation season on the Missouri River. The operation of the Missouri River is a controversial issue in my State. The Corps of Engineers is currently in the middle of a comprehensive review to determine the best way to manage the river for all interests, including recreation, navigation, irrigation, hydropower and water supply. For Congress to intervene at this stage of the reevaluation, to predetermine its outcome, would have been counterproductive to a fair and equitable resolution of this issue. I thank the House conferees for receding to the Senate on this issue. There are some laudable provisions in this conference report, most notably the changes in flood control policy. With tighter Federal budgets, there is a growing need for local interests to become even more committed to their projects.”