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109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2006 

To provide for recovery efforts relating to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita 

for Corps of Engineers projects. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 14, 2005 

Mr. INHOFE (for himself and Mr. JEFFORDS) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and 

Public Works 

A BILL 

To provide for recovery efforts relating to Hurricanes 

Katrina and Rita for Corps of Engineers projects. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT-TERM ASSESSMENT. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Army, acting 

5 through the Chief of Engineers (referred to in this Act 

6 as the ‘‘Secretary’’), shall conduct, at full Federal expense, 

7 a comprehensive assessment of Corps infrastructure in the 

8 State of Louisiana affected by Hurricanes Katrina and 

9 Rita to determine whether opportunities exist for project 

10 modifications or project integration that may— 
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1 (1) reduce future hurricane impacts; or 

2 (2) further other project purposes. 

3 (b) CONTENT.—The assessment under subsection (a) 

4 shall include, at a minimum— 

5 (1) a description of means of providing an in6 creased level of hurricane protection using a com7 bination of structural and nonstructural features; 

8 (2) a review of the use of a combination of 

9 structural means (such as levees and floodgates) and 

10 nonstructural means (such as wetlands and beaches) 

11 in providing hurricane protection; 

12 (3) a prioritization of actions that should be 

13 taken to improve the level of hurricane protection 

14 provided; and 

15 (4) such other information as the Secretary de16 termines to be appropriate. 

17 (c) REPORT.—Not later than January 15, 2006, the 

18 Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Environment 

19 and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on 

20 Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep21 resentatives a report describing the results of the assess22 ment. 

23 (d) FUNDING.—Of the amounts made available by 

24 the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 

25 2006, for investigations by the Corps of Engineers, the 
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1 Secretary may use not more than $1,000,000 to carry out 

2 this section. 

3 SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE STUDY. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Using the results of the assess5 ment reported under section 1(c), the Secretary shall, in 

6 consultation with the State of Louisiana, conduct a com7 prehensive, integrated water resources analysis to design 

8 and develop a full range of flood control, navigation, eco9 system restoration, and hurricane protection measures for 

10 southern Louisiana. 

11 (b) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after 

12 the date of submission of the report under section 1(c), 

13 the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Environ14 ment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee 

15 on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 

16 Representatives an initial report detailing an integrated 

17 approach to category 5 flood control, navigation, and eco18 system restoration for the Gulf Coast region of the State 

19 of Louisiana that includes— 

20 (1) a description of an overall approach for fu21 ture spending in that region; 

22 (2) an identification of specific changes to ongo23 ing projects, as well as proposals for future projects, 

24 in that region; and 
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1 (3) a consideration of potential future projects, 

2 including projects involving— 

3 (A) the replacement of barrier islands; 

4 (B) coastal restoration; 

5 (C) the closing of the Mississippi River 

6 Gulf Outlet; 

7 (D) the filling in of canals; and 

8 (E) the relocation of pumping stations to 

9 areas that are less threatened by rising water. 

10 (c) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the 

11 date of submission of the report under section 1(c), the 

12 Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Environment 

13 and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on 

14 Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep15 resentatives a final technical report for an integrated ap16 proach to category 5 flood control, navigation, and eco17 system restoration for the Gulf Coast region of the State 

18 of Louisiana. 

19 (d) FUNDING.—Of the amounts made available by 

20 the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 

21 2006, for investigations by the Corps of Engineers, the 

22 Secretary shall use not more than $8,000,000 to carry out 

23 this section. 

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