H. Res. 1639 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

September 28, 2010. 

Whereas the Corps of Engineers (Corps) is the Nation’s premier water resources agency, charged by the Congress 

with responsibility over its 3 principal mission areas of 

navigation, flood damage reduction, and environmental 

restoration; 

Whereas the Corps is responsible for the maintenance of 

more than 11,000 miles of channels in 41 States for commercial navigation, the operation of locks at 230 individual sites, the maintenance of over 300 deep-draft commercial harbors and over 600 shallow-draft, coastal, and 

inland harbors, and the maintenance of over 8,500 miles 

of flood damage reduction structures, including levees; 

Whereas the vast array of navigation and flood damage reduction infrastructure is important to the security and vitality of the Nation’s economy and overall prosperity; 

Whereas the Corps’ environmental restoration mission seeks 

to achieve environmental sustainability, to promote balance and synergy among human development activities 

and natural systems, and to maintain a healthy, diverse, 

and sustainable condition necessary to support life; 

Whereas the authorization for critical navigation, flood damage reduction, environmental restoration, and other 
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water-related projects and studies carried out by the 

Corps is typically included in a water resources development act; 

Whereas throughout the Corps’ history, water resources development acts have provided the Corps with the authority to carry out nationally significant projects that have 

improved the economic prosperity of the Nation, have 

protected its citizenry from the threat of flooding and 

coastal storms, and have put in place environmental restoration efforts for many of the Nation’s national treasures; 

Whereas it is the tradition of the House of Representatives 

to consider a water resources development act in every 

Congress to address current and future needs for waterrelated projects and policy changes, including the historic 

override of a Presidential veto of the Water Resources 

Development Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–114); 

Whereas continued and increased investment in the Nation’s 

water-related infrastructure is essential for meeting the 

critical navigation, flood damage reduction, environmental restoration, and other water-related needs of the 

Nation, as well as to ensure the economic security and 

quality of life of American families; 

Whereas the National Waterways Conference was established 

in 1960 to advocate before the Congress for ‘‘commonsense water resources policies that maximize the economic and environmental value’’ of the Nation’s inland, 

coastal, and Great Lakes waterways; 

Whereas the Conference supports continued congressional attention in meeting the Nation’s water-related needs, including navigation, flood damage reduction and risk man-
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agement, environmental protection and restoration, hydroelectric power, recreation, and water supply; 

Whereas the Conference is guided by the purpose of promoting a better understanding of the public value of the 

United States waterways system and to document the importance of farsighted navigation and water resources 

policies to a vibrant economy, industrial and agricultural 

productivity, regional development, environmental quality, 

energy conservation, international trade, defense preparedness, and the overall national interest; 

Whereas the Conference strives to maintain a diverse membership that reflects many of the uses of the Nation’s waterways, including flood control associations, levee 

boards, waterways shippers and carriers, industry and regional associations, port authorities, shipyards, dredging 

contractors, regional water districts, engineering consultants, and local governments; 

Whereas the Conference has been a consistent advocate for 

continued investment in the Nation’s water-related infrastructure, including its strong support for robust appropriations for the Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works program; 

Whereas the Conference serves as an effective national advocate for water resources-related policy and law; and 

Whereas the Conference recognizes that regular authorization 

of a water resources development act is ‘‘essential to our 

nation’s environmental well-being and our economic vitality’’: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
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(1) recognizes the value of the Corps of Engineers 

and its civil works mission to the economic prosperity 

and sustainable environmental health of the Nation; 

(2) recognizes the contributions of the National Waterways Conference in the formulation of the Nation’s 

water resources-related policies and programs for the 

Corps’ civil works mission and its advocacy for continued 

and increased investment in meeting the water resource 

needs of the Nation; and 

(3) commends the National Waterways Conference 

on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. 

Attest: 

Clerk.