Date: 2013-10-23
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chair. a water resources bill in 2013 is critical to the success of America. and crucial to our economic growth and job creation. The last water resources bill was signed into law six years ago. making this one long overdue. I would like to thank Mr. SHUSTER and Ranking Member RAHALL for their leadership in moving this legislation forward. American international trade accounts for more than one quarter of our Gross Domestic Product. More than 99 percent of our overseas trade moves through Americas seaports. Cargo moving through our seaports is responsible for more than 13 million American jobs and generates in excess of $200 billion annually in federal. state. and local tax revenues. We need to keep Americas economic recovery moving forward by ensuring that when American workers make products. we can efficiently move them through our ports to overseas markets. To that end. I hope my colleagues across the aisle will support the WRRDA bill so that our navigation channels and ports are operating at their optimal levels. Of all U.S. overseas exports. 99.4 percent are waterborne and go through ports. For America to remain on top the global economy. we need to be competitive internationally so that global consumers increasingly purchase Americanmade goods. This bill takes an important first step in addressing an issue of key concern to not only the Port of Houston and Galveston in Texas. but to all of our nations ports. the collection and use of the federal Harbor Maintenance Tax. The WRRDA bill also includes numerous reforms to help meet the maritime transportation needs of our nation today and in the futu re. Americas public ports and their private sector partners plan to invest more than $46 billion in seaport infrastructure in the next five years. It is important that we pass this historic legislation by investing in Americas transportation infrastructure. Maintaining Americas link to the global marketplace by creating and maintaining modern and efficient seaport and waterway infrastructure will provide significant benefits to our nations economic vitality. job growth. and international competitiveness. as well as create sizable tax revenues from cargo and trade activities. Ports serve as Americas gateway to the global economy. The nations economic prosperity rests on the ability of containerized and bulk cargo arriving unimpeded at U.S. ports to support the "just in time" delivery system that underpins the manufacturing and retail sectors. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). ports. waterways. and vessels are part of an economic engine handling more than $700 billion in merchandise annually. according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). and an attack on this system could have a widespread impact on global shipping. international trade. and the global economy. The Port of Houston houses approximately 100 steamship lines offering services that link Houston with 1.053 ports in 203 countries. It is also home to a $15 billion petrochemical complex. the largest in the nation and second largest worldwide. As a result. it is an ideal port for examining security practices in the maritime environment. At the Port of Houston. and other ports across the country. balancing security concerns with the need to facilitate the free flow of people and commerce remains an ongoing challenge for both the public and private sectors. Mr. Chair. I would like to thank Chairman SHUSTER. Ranking Member RAHALL. Chairman GIBBS and Ranking Member BISHOP in working with the Texas Delegation on behalf of our constituents to strengthen the bill by encouraging nonfederal entities to invest in their harbor maintenance and step in when the Army Corps of Engineers cannot. This legislative provision particularly benefits ports like the Port of Houston which have invested substantial amounts of their own funds to complete critical infrastructure in order to provide for safe navigation of larger vessels. and to assure its terminals remain competitive in the world market. This success complements my efforts to secure necessary funding for harbor dredging in the FY 2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Act. Furthermore. I would like to thank the Committee leadership for supporting the Jackson Lee Amendment #9 on the roster and including the amendment En Bloc. This amendment provides that in making recommendations pursuant to Section 118 of the Act. the Secretary shall consult with key stakeholders. including State. county. and city governments. and. where applicable. State and local water districts. and in the case of recommendations concerning projects that substantially affect underrepresented communities the Secretary shall also consult with historically Black colleges and universities. Tribal Colleges and Universities. and other minorityserving institutions. Mr. Chair. as you are aware. it is an essential tool in our desire to improve the lives of low income and minority communities as well as the environment at large. I am sure we will never forget the critical impact from Hurricane Sandy that crippled the Northeast area from Massachusetts to North Carolina. And not long before Hurricane Sandy. as we were working to learn how to prevent another Hurricane Katrina that crippled the great City of New Orleans. Our nation was still healing from Hurricane Ike and Hurricane Rita which crippled Houston. Texas. Thereby highlighting the importance of not only giving greater attention to our underserved communities but also how we can help our citizens by educating them on the areas in which they live. As my colleagues are aware. a healthy environment sustains a productive and healthy community which fosters personal and economic growth. Consulting with key stakeholders. including State. county. and city governments. and. where applicable. State and local water districts. and in the case of recommendations concerning projects that substantially affect underrepresented communities the Secretary shall also consult with historically Black colleges and universities. Tribal Colleges and Universities. and other minorityserving institutions is imperative to protecting sustainability and growth of the community and environment. The coordination with the aforementioned groups is vital to ensuring that economically disadvantaged and minority groups are not placed at a disadvantage when it comes to the environment and the continued preservation of their communities as we look to environmental and socioeconomic resources located within the project area and the general locations of the alternatives under consideration. Further. any issues of concern regarding the potential environmental or socioeconomic impacts of the project. including any issues that may substantially delay or prevent an agency from granting a permit or other approval that is needed for the project study. Through education about the importance of environmental sustainability. we can promote a broader understanding of our rivers and harbors of the United States. and how citizens can improve their surroundings. I want to also acknowledge and recognize Congressman DEFAZIO of Oregon for offering an amendment. in which I cosponsored that conditions the application of Section 103 of the bill on a reduction in the backlog of Corps of Engineers projects to less than $20 billion in construction costs. This amendment highlights the fact that it is a lack of funding not the environmental review process that has led to a backlog of authorized projects that are not being constructed. We have spent enough energy arguing over the budget and the National Environmental Policy (NEPA) streamlining. but not enough time in making the hard decisions and investments that are going to create economic growth and create jobs. I urge Congress to support Rep. DeFazios amendment #2. Mr. Chair. I believe the WRRDA bill would have been stronger with the inclusion of an amendment I offered to the Rules Committee that directs the Secretary of the Army to encourage the participation of minority- and womenowned businesses in such projects and requires the GAO to submit a report to Congress within 2 years on the participation of minority- and womenowned businesses in such projects. I recognize the value of a diverse supplier base and its impact on the community and population at large. Therefore. I will work directly with the Secretary of the Army to establish an opportunity for Minority and Women Owned Businesses to work directly with the United States Army and the United States Corp of Engineers on specific projects that will ensure that the United States Army and the United States Corp of Engineers continues to creatively seek new supplier sources to fulfill the business opportunities at a number of Ports throughout our great nation and that minority and women owned businesses are given the opportunity to compete for these specific project business opportunities. In closing. it is important to note that since the establishment of our Nation. our inland waterways and seaports have linked America directly to the global economy. This remains true today. Goods from all over the world reach our store shelves after arriving here through our ports. and products grown and made in the U.S.A. get to market overseas using our water transportation network. The importance of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mission to maintain our port and waterways infrastructure will only increase with time. Expansion of the Panama Canal is expected to be completed in 2014. allowing more and larger ships to call on Americas ports. Our trade volume is expected to double within a decade. and to double again by 2030. We have to be ready for this expected growth in order to remain globally competitive. The economic benefits of the Corps mission are not limited to navigation and commerce. Levees. dams. reservoirs. and other measures within the Corps mission scope provide flood protection for homes and businesses. protecting property and life. Mr. Chair. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3080.