Date: 2016-05-25
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. allow me again to thank Mr. SIMPSON and Ms. KAPTUR for their work on this energy and water bill that is so very important. and emphasize the importance of this legislation to many and all regions of the United States of America. My amendment speaks to the need for robust funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers investigations account. Let me be very clear. It speaks to the general need for robust funding for the investigations account. and it speaks to it in terminology of redirecting $3 million for increased funding for postdisaster watershed assessment studies. like the one that is being contemplated for the Houston/Harris County metropolitan area. It does this to emphasize the importance of the investigations account. not to single out a particular project. but for describing a project. which I will take time to do. I am pleased that H.R. 5055 provides $120 million for the investigations account. This is very important to the Army Corps of Engineers. As a Federal agency that collects and studies basic information pertaining to river and harbor. flood and storm damage reduction. shore protection. aquatic ecosystem restoration. and conducts detailed studies. plans. and specifications for river and harbor. and flood and storm damage reduction. the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plays a critical role in building. maintaining. and expanding the most critical of the Nations infrastructure. We understand this very well in my home State of Texas and the 18th Congressional District. Over the last 2 years. Mr. Chairman. 2 years around the exact same time. we didnt have something called a hurricane. We had a heavy rain in AprilMay of 2015 and April of 2016. 2016 had 20 inches of rain. which was enormous. The damage was unbelievable. Let me cite for you the words from the Greater Houston Partnership that supports this amendment: "Perhaps the most telling statistic of all: based on the 7.021 calls the United Way of Greater Houston has received through its 211 line. 1.937 calls have been requests for food replacement." The amount of money that was lost was $1.9 billion in damage during the weeks that followed the storm. which includes damage to homes. cars. schools. parks. churches. roadways. and other important elements of our infrastructure. This is what we faced in Houston. Texas. I am recounting that and indicating that we believe this investigations account is so very important. It will have the opportunity. through a $3 million study. to deal with the bayous that are located in the larger Houston/Harris County area: Sims Bayou. Greens Bayou. Brays Bayou. White Oak Bayou. Hunting Bayou. and Clear Creek. Again. let me be very clear. As the Army Corps of Engineers works through their work study program. this investigations account will be enormously important. We have also received a letter from Members of the United States Congress supporting the study of all of the bayous in our community. We want to ensure that the account is robust to provide that possible opportunity. Let me indicate to my colleagues again. the investigations account is $120 million. We rise to support it. We also rise to acknowledge the need for the utilization of those funds all over America. and certainly in Houston/Harris County. Texas. and the surrounding counties. which will help us. through a study. have a better pathway to how we fix this. how do we not have this be Houston next year in 2017. Let me thank my colleagues. I reserve the balance of my time. [ 2045