Max Baucus: “I would like to offer a word of explanation about the amendment just offered by the chairman of the Appropriations…”

“I would like to offer a word of explanation about the amendment just offered by the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Byrd. This amendment would allow the Soil Conservation Service to use the funds appropriated in this bill to repair levees and other watershed projects, regardless of drainage size. This would allow the SCS to provide needed assistance for levees and other watershed protection facilities damaged during the Midwest floods. The amendment also strikes the amendment adopted last evening, amendment No. 1447, which would have seriously undermined the Corps of Engineers Levee Rehabilitation Program and greatly weakened Federal flood control and rehabilitation policy. With this amendment, we can provide needed emergency relief while we examine what the appropriate role of the Federal Government is with regard to flood protection and control. The recent unfortunate spate of major disasters has made the need to reexamine our disaster relief policy all the more urgent. I want to thank Senator Byrd and the members from the affected States, Senators Harkin and Bond, for their work in helping craft this amendment.”