Date: 2013-10-23
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of H.R. 3080 and want to express my appreciation to the committee leadership. both the chairmen and ranking members of both the full committee and the subcommittee. As the senior Texan on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I applaud the chairmen and ranking members for their leadership in advancing this legislation to this point. While I ultimately support the passage of this bill. I am concerned about the streamlining provisions of this bill. If properly funded. necessary projects can be completed with appropriate environmental considerations and public participation. I am discouraged that the environmental protections are being weakened under this guise. Within this bill. I supported language to increase commercial navigation capabilities for the Texas ports and waterways. With the expansion of the Panama Canal. these improvements would allow for an increased role in global trade and interstate commerce. Mr. Chair. I rise in support of H.R. 3080. the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2013. As the Senior Texan on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and cosponsor of this legislation. I am glad to once again be addressing water resources legislation on the House Floor. Such legislation has not been passed by this esteemed Body since 2007. when I served as Chairwoman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee that helped craft and usher the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2007 into law over a presidential veto. With this background. I understand the challenge of composing and advancing such legislation to this point. I applaud the leadership demonstrated by the Chairman and Ranking Members of both the Full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee for bringing this bill to the Floor today. While I ultimately support the passage of this legislation. I am concerned about the weakening of environmental protections and the ability of the public to participate in that process as a result of the streamlining provisions of this bill. The Army Corps of Engineers project construction backlog and astronomical figure it carries demonstrates that project efficiency must be improved. I understand the desire to expedite Army Corps of Engineers study and project completions. yet do not believe that the environmental safeguards such as the National Environmental Policy Act are the cause of those delays. If properly funded. necessary projects can be completed with appropriate environmental considerations. I am discouraged that environmental protections are being weakened under this guise. As CoChair of the Texas Maritime Caucus. I have supported language in this bill to increase commercial navigation capabilities for Texas ports and waterways. I am excited about Texas ports and the role that they play in cultivating the Texas economy. the National economy. and the global economy. With expansive coastlines. established intermodal infrastructure. and strategically beneficial location. maritime commerce has a bright future in Texas. Moreover. the American economy has a brighter future because of Texas transportation investments and capabilities. I am glad to have worked in a bipartisan fashion to include language in this legislation for an assessment of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. This assessment will be a valuable tool for the State of Texas to determine its current and future operation and maintenance needs for navigation improvements to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. allowing it to be utilized more efficiently and productively in maritime commerce. Further. I supported the inclusion of projects at the SabineNeches Waterway. Texas and at Freeport Harbor. Texasboth of which are authorized in this legislation. The SabineNeches Waterway project will contribute to the economic effectiveness of commercial navigation in a system of navigation channels in the SabineNeches estuary of Texas and Louisiana. The Freeport Harbor project provides for a deepdraft waterway from the Gulf of Mexico to the City of Freeport through the original mouth of the Brazos River. It will contribute to the economic efficiency of commercial navigation in the region and will significantly improve Freeport Harbors ability to compete in international maritime commerce. These projects will help bring nearly a billion dollars of Federal funds to Texas ports and waterways. In turn. these improvements will be a boon for Texas economy and the National economy. Further. with the expansion of the Panama Canal. these improvements will allow Texas ports to play an increased role in the global economy. The increased economic benefit and movement of goods will be felt throughout Texas. including in my home district in Dallas. home to two Class One rail lines. an intermodal facility. numerous interstate highways. and a strong consumer marketplace. It is my hope that the passage of this legislation will revive the biannual WRDA authorization schedule. Monitoring the streamlining provisions of this bill. as well as assessing the expenditures of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund will be ripe for reconsideration during the next Congressas will many other issues. It is my belief that the overall objectives and purposes of water resources legislation are vital to America and should be considered on a biannual basis. The importance of this bill should not be lost in politics. In closing. I want to once again thank the Chairman and Ranking Members of both the Full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee for their leadership in advancing this legislation to the floor today.