Political Quotes

“Unfortunately, this bill contains a poison pill relative to my part of the country, and that is the provision in this legislation that would direct the Corps of Engineers to extend navigation on the Missouri River by 1 month. The management of our Nation's rivers is a complex thing. The more expertise we get on this issue, the more we begin to understand just how complex it is. The Corps of Engineers, in fact, are looking at the management issues attendant to the management of the Missouri River and will end up investing nearly 10 years in a revision manual effort, an effort that will cost up to $24.5 million. By exhaustive hearings and research, they will weigh and come out with a product that ultimately directs the management of this river. Now, we are all frustrated that this process has taken so long. Upstream is frustrated, downstream is frustrated. But the way the downstream interests are reacting to their frustration is just to direct with legislative language a management priority for navigation and extend it 1 month while we are at it. It is not that simple. That directive would shortchange and injure a variety of upstream interests, including irrigation, hydropower, municipal water supply, and flood control.”