Thomas Daschle: “today I am introducing, with my colleagues Senator Johnson, legislation to investigate and hopefully change the culture…”

“today I am introducing, with my colleagues Senator Johnson, legislation to investigate and hopefully change the culture of disregard for environmental values that infects the Corps of Engineers' management of America's great rivers. My own experiences in South Dakota and my discussions with many of my constituents and others around the Nation have led me to conclude that protecting the future health of our Nation's waterways demands that Congress consider relieving the Corps of its current river management responsibilities. For the last decade, I have watched as the Corps has steadfastly refused to change its management of the Missouri River to reflect the environmental and economic needs of the 21st century. The agency's refusal to change the management of the river will further jeopardize endangered species, drive river-dependent businesses into bankruptcy, and lead to further erosion of Native American burial and cultural sites along its banks. As a Senator from South Dakota and as a citizen of that State who enjoys hunting and fishing along the Missouri, I share the sense of betrayal that so many upstream residents feel watching the Corps' management slowly degrade this once thriving river.”