Political Quotes

“Sec. 211 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 includes a provision to accelerate the process to deauthorize inactive civil works projects. I am concerned, however, that this provision will have unintended consequences for deep-draft navigation projects. In 1986 the Congress authorized many port improvement projects after a 16-year deadlock with the Executive Branch. At that time, these projects were authorized according to the Report of the Chief of Engineers. Subsequently, with the concurrence of the non-Federal sponsor, elements of these major projects were constructed in phases. For example, in the case of the Norfolk Harbor and Channels Deepening Project, the project authorizes the deepening of the main channels to 55 feet, deepening anchorages to 55 feet and deepening secondary channels to 45 feet. Significant progress has been made to deepen our nation's most active ports. These projects are critical to America's competitiveness in the global marketplace and to securing a favorable balance of trade.”