[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1994

                                 ______


                               speech of

                            HON. BOB FRANKS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 3, 1994

  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support 
of H.R. 4460, the Water Resources Development Act of 1994 [WRDA]. 
Although there are many elements in this bill I support, I would like 
to bring to my colleagues' attention the two provisions of particular 
interest to my constituents.
  The first provision is similar to a bill I introduced last year (H.R. 
2310) that would direct the Army Corps of Engineers to fully consider 
the prevention of the loss of human life when planning water resources 
projects. My legislation, which was originally conceived by our former 
colleague, Millicent Fenwick, garnered 13 cosponsors.
  Currently, the prevention of the loss of life is not one of the 
principal criteria used in deciding whether to proceed with a 
particular water resources project. For example, the Corps considers 
the loss of livestock when deciding whether to build a flood-control 
project, yet it does not quantity human life in the same terms. In this 
century alone, tens of thousands of Americans have lost their lives due 
to flooding. Most recently, 26 people died in the flooding of the 
Mississippi River last year, and 31 victims perished in the Georgia 
floods this past summer. Clearly, if the Corps considers the loss of 
animals when determining the viability of a water resources project, 
they should be attaching even greater significance to the saving of 
human lives.
  I believe the policy of weighing economic and environmental factors 
more heavily than the consideration of how many lives a flood control 
project could potentially save is flawed and unfair. In practice, this 
means affluent communities are more likely to qualify for a flood 
control project than poor neighborhoods whose residents are at greater 
risk of losing their lives. Elevating the criteria of saving human life 
would simply help eliminate this disparity when the Corps conducts its 
cost/benefit analysis of a water resources project.
  As a member of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee, I 
am pleased that I was able to include the provisions of H.R. 2310 as 
Section 221 of H.R. 4460. I thank the lead Democratic cosponsor of H.R. 
2310, who also serves on the House Public Works and Transportation 
Committee, Ms. Shepherd, and the other 12 cosponsors of my bill for 
their support.
  The second important provision of H.R. 4460 concerns the Green Brook 
Flood Control Project, which Congress authorized in 1986 and has funded 
every year since. Unfortunately, the New York district of the Army 
Corps of Engineers has allowed this project to languish. I, and many of 
my constituents are growing increasingly impatient with the lack of 
urgency accorded this project by the Corps. Therefore, I suggested that 
the Committee include report language admonishing the Corps for the 
slow pace of this project, and requested that the New York district 
form a Task Force to expedite this project. I am gratified that the 
Committee agreed with my position, and included suitable report 
language directing the Corps to form a Green Brook task force. Because 
I hold the Army Corps of Engineers in high regard, I am confident that 
this project will be far along when Congress considers the WRDA again 
in 1996.
  Mr. Speaker, the House Public Works and Transportation Committee has 
again crafted a fine water resources bill. I am proud to have played a 
part in shaping this legislation, which will benefit my country and my 
constituents. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yea'' on H.R. 4460.

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