I just put the money in the appropriations bill. The President just signed my legislation the Energy and Water Appropriations bill just days ago.

Is it likely that there will be a local sponsor for the following step?

I was on the eastern side of the State when I received reports that the consequences of a significant action with a certain ice jam could have caused massive flooding in a significant part of Bismarck.

We need some type of computerized monitoring of the river system, not only the Missouri, but the Heart River system.

The issue of dredging is important. I mean, that's not a new issue for any of us.

I don't know if there are people in the room who are old enough to have been here, in Bismarck and Mandan, when there was chronic flooding with a rather wild Missouri River.

Let me suggest something to you, ma'am.

We have been through a lengthy drought in which the main stem reservoirs have been largely depleted.

When I drafted that and put that in the bill it was very controversial, as you can imagine.

We need guidance from experts that, you know, who claim they have models that can predict, you know, scenarios that would be greater flooding than we had in 2009.

we've still got a problem with debris and siltation that ought to be taken care of.

So we've spent a lot of time thinking about and working on and working with local government officials with respect to flood control on the Red River.