Kent Conrad: “I rise today to join him in offering these amendments to cope with an emergency situation that exists in our State. In…”

“I rise today to join him in offering these amendments to cope with an emergency situation that exists in our State. In the last 2 years, Devils Lake has risen by 13 feet. It is now at a 120-year high. The National Weather Service has just informed us, on the first of this month, that they anticipate the lake will rise another 2 or 3 feet this year. This is a tragedy and a disaster of staggering proportions. The lake has doubled in surface area in the last 2 years. It is threatening communities. It is threatening farmland. It is threatening roads. It is an economic catastrophe in this part of North Dakota. We have worked together with FEMA, with the Corps of Engineers, and other relevant Federal agencies to develop a strategy and plan to cope with this crisis. Last week we asked the Appropriations Committee to give special consideration, in light of the new forecast which was just out as to the lake level rises that we could expect this year, to respond on an emergency basis. The Appropriations Committee has responded, and I want to thank personally the chairman of the committee, Senator Hatfield, for his prompt and sensitive response. I also thank Senator Byrd for his assistance. Because, without their help, we would face $50 million of additional damages this year. It makes no sense not to take steps now to avert the tragedy that is coming.”