Subcommittee Explores WRDA Prospects – Garamendi Requests Delta Data
On April 15, the House T&I Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held an oversight hearing on implementation of WRDA 2007 and prospects for a WRDA 2010 bill. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Tex.) chaired the session with Rep. John Boozman (R-Ark.) serving as Ranking Member. Prospects for a WRDA 2010 bill coming together were downplayed by comments on earmarks by full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.). Addressing the recent Republican caucus decision to reject all earmarks, including WRDA projects, Oberstar said, “We have over 2000 individual project requests for the upcoming WRDA bill. Of those, 120 Republican members submitted requests, and only a handful have asked that their projects be withdrawn. In the history of the House, never have Army Corps project authorizations been considered earmarks, that’s an appropriations committee term.” It is unclear if Chairman Oberstar will be able to proceed in developing a bill without Republican support.
New committee member Rep. John Garamendi (D-10) said he would like to shift the discussion to western matters, particularly California’s Bay Delta, which he described as being in deep trouble. Garamendi said he would be sending the Corps a letter asking for the following information: 1) Why do the Corps’ Regional staff say “nothing is going on” with regard to the Corps helping to fix the Delta? 2) Provide a complete review of all current and one to three year old projects in the Delta and the funding associated with each. 3) Provide a status report on their position on removing vegetation from levees. 4) Provide a status report on the restoration projects the Corps. is involved with.
Garamendi completed his remarks by saying, “I live in the Delta and along the Sacramento river. I’m a full supporter of earmark-funding for this part of the state. If we don’t, it will be really bad.”
To read witness testimony or watch the archived hearing, please click here.
