Bob Wise: “Mr. Speaker, this bill is about investment. It is about moving coal and chemicals and commerce along our Nation's inland…”

“Mr. Speaker, this bill is about investment. It is about moving coal and chemicals and commerce along our Nation's inland waterway system and through our ports. It is about providing flood protection and preventing soil erosion. Most important for West Virginia, this bill provides the authorization to build the important Marmet locks, which are at the top of the priority list for the Army Corps of Engineers. It is about ending uncertainty for the almost 200 families in that area that have been waiting and waiting to see whether or not real estate acquisition and appraisal would begin. Not everyone supports the locks in the area but most understand that it is going to happen and the question is when. Mr. Speaker, this bill is about giving the go to the Huntington District Corps of Engineers to get under way and to get those engineers working now and to get the real estate acquisition project started as soon as possible. This bill is the authorization.”