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

I thank the distinguished gentleman and the distinguished gentlewoman for their courtesies. I want the chairman to know that I have acknowledged in my written statement the funds that he has placed in the legislation. Mr. Chair. I ask my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee amendment as a very fine statement that contributes to this bill. to the people of the Nation. but also to the people of Texas and Houston. Mr. Chair. I want to thank Chairman SIMPSON and Ranking Member KAPTUR for shepherding this legislation to the floor and for their commitment to preserving Americas great natural environment and resources so that they can serve and be enjoyed by generations to come. My amendment speaks to the need for robust funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers "Investigations" account by redirecting $3 million for increases funding for postdisaster watershed assessment studies. like the one that is being contemplated for the Houston/Harris County metropolitan area. Mr. Chair. I am pleased that H.R. 5055 provides $120 million for the Investigations account. As the 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 Engineer plays a critical role in the building. maintaining. and expanding the most critical of the nations infrastructure. We understand this very well in my home state of Texas and the Eighteenth Congressional District that I represent. The Army Corps of Engineers has been working with the Harris County I Flood Control District since 1937 to reduce the risk of flooding within Harris County. Current projects include 6 federal flood risk management projects: 1. Sims Bayou 2. Greens Bayou 3. Brays Bayou 4. White Oak Bayou 5. Hunting Bayou. and 6. Clear Creek In addition to these ongoing projects. the Army Corps of Engineers operates and maintains the Addicks and Barker (A&B) Detention Dams in northwest Harris County. Mr. Chair. I am pleased that the bill provides that the Secretary of the Army may initiate up to six new study starts during fiscal year 2017. and that five of those studies are to consist studies where the majority of the benefits are derived from flood and storm damage reduction or from navigation transportation savings. I am optimistic that one of those new study starts will be the Houston Regional Watershed Assessment Flood Risk Management Feasibility study. Such a study is certainly needed given the frequency and severity of historiclevel flood events in recent years in and around the Houston metropolitan area. On April 15. 2016. an estimated 240 billion gallons of water fell in the Houston area over a 12 hour period. which resulted in several areas exceeding the 100 to 500 year flood event record. The areas that experienced these historic rain falls were west of 145. north of 110. and Greens Bayou. Additionally. an estimated 140 billion gallons of water fell over the Cypress Creek. Spring Creek. and Addicks watershed in just 14 hours. The purpose of the Houston Regional Watershed Assessment is to identify risk reduction measures and optimize performance from a multiobjective systems performance perspective of the regional network of nested and intermingled watersheds. reservoir dams. flood flow conveyance channels. storm water detention basins. and related Flood Risk Management (FRM) infrastructure. Special emphasis of the study. which covers 22 primary watersheds within Harris Countys 1.756 square miles. will be placed on extreme flood events that exceed the system capacity resulting in impacts to asset conditions/functions and loss of life. Mr. Chair. during the May 2015 Houston flood. 3.015 homes were flooded and 8 persons died. during the April 2016 Houston flood. 5.400 homes were flooded and 8 deaths recorded. The economic damage caused by the 2015 Houston flood is estimated at $3 billion. the 2016 estimate is being compiled and is estimated to be well above $2 billion. Mr. Chair. minimizing the risk of flood damage to the Houston and Harris County metropolitan area. the nations 4th largest. is a matter of national significance because the region is one of the nations major technology. energy. finance. export and medical centers: 1. Port of Houston is the largest bulk port in the world. 2. Texas Medical Center is a world renowned teaching. research and treatment center. 3. Houston is home to the largest conglomeration of foreign bank representation and second only to New York City as home to the most Fortune 500 companies. and 4. The Houston Watershed Assessment study area sits within major Hurricane Evacuation arteries for the larger Galveston Gulf Coast region. I ask my colleagues to join me and support the Jackson Lee Amendment for the Environmental Justice Program. Mr. Chair. I yield back the balance of my time.