IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1639 
Recognizing the contributions of the National Waterways Conference on the 
occasion of its 50th anniversary, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 22, 2010 
Mr. HARE (for himself, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. MICA, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE 
JOHNSON of Texas, and Mr. BOOZMAN) submitted the following resolu-
tion; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the contributions of the National Waterways 
Conference on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, and 
for other purposes. 
Whereas the Corps of Engineers (Corps) is the Nation’s pre-
mier 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 com-
mercial navigation, the operation of locks at 230 indi-
vidual sites, the maintenance of over 300 deep-draft com-
mercial harbors and over 600 shallow-draft, coastal, and 
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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 re-
duction infrastructure is important to the security and vi-
tality of the Nation’s economy and overall prosperity; 
Whereas the Corps’ environmental restoration mission seeks 
to achieve environmental sustainability, to promote bal-
ance 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 dam-
age reduction, environmental restoration, and other 
water-related projects and studies carried out by the 
Corps is typically included in a water resources develop-
ment act; 
Whereas throughout the Corps’ history, water resources de-
velopment acts have provided the Corps with the author-
ity 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 res-
toration efforts for many of the Nation’s national treas-
ures; 
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 water- 
related 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 
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critical navigation, flood damage reduction, environ-
mental 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 ‘‘common- 
sense water resources policies that maximize the eco-
nomic and environmental value’’ of the Nation’s inland, 
coastal, and Great Lakes waterways; 
Whereas the Conference supports continued congressional at-
tention in meeting the Nation’s water-related needs, in-
cluding navigation, flood damage reduction and risk man-
agement, environmental protection and restoration, hy-
droelectric power, recreation, and water supply; 
Whereas the Conference is guided by the purpose of pro-
moting a better understanding of the public value of the 
United States waterways system and to document the im-
portance of farsighted navigation and water resources 
policies to a vibrant economy, industrial and agricultural 
productivity, regional development, environmental quality, 
energy conservation, international trade, defense pre-
paredness, and the overall national interest; 
Whereas the Conference strives to maintain a diverse mem-
bership that reflects many of the uses of the Nation’s wa-
terways, including flood control associations, levee 
boards, waterways shippers and carriers, industry and re-
gional associations, port authorities, shipyards, dredging 
contractors, regional water districts, engineering consult-
ants, and local governments; 
Whereas the Conference has been a consistent advocate for 
continued investment in the Nation’s water-related infra-
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structure, including its strong support for robust appro-
priations for the Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works pro-
gram; 
Whereas the Conference serves as an effective national advo-
cate 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 vital-
ity’’: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the value of the Corps of Engi-
neers 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 Na-
tion’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 Con-
ference on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. 
Æ 
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