Political Quotes

“I rise in support of the Dam Safety and Security Act. This important legislation reauthorizes a program that has directly helped the States and protects the citizens of this country. This program, run by the Federal Emergency Management Administration, provides vital assistance to States, and actually saves the government money by helping prevent dam accidents from happening, allowing FEMA to direct its emergency funds where they are needed most. Dams provide tremendous benefits, including water supply for drinking, irrigation and industrial uses, flood control, hydroelectric power, recreation, and navigation. At the same time, dams also represent one of the greatest risks to public safety. Historically, some of the largest disasters in U.S. history have resulted in dam failures. In 1928, the St. Francis Dam failure killed more than 500 Californians. During the 1970s, the Buffalo Creek Teton and Toccoa Creek Dam failures collectively cost 175 lives and over $1 billion in losses. In 1889, the collapse of the South Fork Dam decimated the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, killing more than 2,000 people. Despite the tragedies of the past, many dams are not maintained properly. Dams require ongoing maintenance, monitoring, safety inspections, and rehabilitation.”