[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 110 (Wednesday, July 24, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1364-E1365]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             CREATING JOBS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 24, 1996

  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert my Washington 
Report for Wednesday, July 17, 1996, into the Congressional Record.

                 Creating Job Opportunities In Indiana

       Hoosiers often ask about the availability of good-paying 
     jobs in Indiana. They believe the economy in Indiana is 
     performing better and more jobs are being created, but 
     continue to worry about the long-term prospects for growth.
       I share their concerns, and have given a high priority to 
     supporting job creation efforts in southern Indiana. I have 
     taken a leading role in support of several key highway and 
     water projects in the 9th District which will encourage long-
     term growth, and have led efforts to find productive reuses 
     of closed military bases in and around the District.


                       highway and water projects

       Investment in our infrastructure is vital to maintaining 
     the high quality of life Americans have come to expect. Since 
     last year I have supported over 100 projects, including 
     improving roads and sewer and water systems, in our 21 
     counties, bringing in over $62 million.


                              I-265 bridge

       I have taken the lead in seeking congressional funding for 
     an I-265 bridge across the

[[Page E1365]]

     Ohio River. My preference is for an eastern bridge which 
     completes the I-265 beltway. Such a route would promote job 
     creation in southern Indiana and relieve highway congestion 
     in the greater Louisville area. Congress, with my support, 
     approved in 1994 $500,000 for the project, which is now 
     funding a study, to be completed this November, on a possible 
     bridge location. Also, Governor Bayh, at my urging, recently 
     committed $1 million for an environmental impact statement 
     (EIS). The EIS will follow the location study, and is a 
     necessary step, under federal law, before construction can 
     begin on the project. It will investigate the project's 
     effect on the natural, economic and social environments of 
     the area and provide a cost-benefit analysis of the project.


                             us 231 highway

       I have also led efforts to upgrade US 231 in Spencer County 
     to a four-lane highway. Governor Bayh, at my request, 
     recently committed $500,000 to conduct an EIS, starting this 
     fall, on the highway project. A four-lane highway will 
     greatly improve the current transportation network in this 
     region, linking I-64 in Indiana to the Natcher Bridge, 
     Owensboro and the Kentucky parkway system in the south. It 
     will also encourage economic development in Spencer, Dubois 
     and Perry Counties.


                            flood protection

       Heavy rains this year highlight the need for effective 
     flood protection, particularly along the Ohio River, to 
     secure homes, businesses, and public infrastructure in the 
     region. A House committee, at my request, has provided $2.8 
     million to repair six Ohio River flood protection projects 
     built by the Corps of Engineers from 1943 to 1954 and 
     operated and maintained by the cities of Lawrenceburg, 
     Jeffersonville-Clarksville, New Albany, Cannelton, Tell City, 
     and Evansville. The full House will soon consider the 
     measure.


                          ohio river greenway

       The greenway will connect the waterfronts in 
     Jeffersonville, Clarksville, and New Albany, and provide 
     residents and visitors with better access to this scenic 
     riverfront corridor and its various attractions, including 
     the Falls of the Ohio National Wildlife Conservation Area, 
     the Louisville skyline, and the historic districts along the 
     riverfront. Congress, at my request, has approved funding 
     over the last few years for initial planning and design work 
     on the project. A House committee is considering a bill to 
     authorize construction of the greenway.


                     redevelopment at closing bases

       Indiana has been hard hit by the four rounds of military 
     base closings. Four major bases have been closed, including 
     the Jefferson Proving Ground (JPG) in Madison; one, the 
     Indiana Army Ammunition Plant (INAAP), has been inactivated; 
     and another, the Naval Ordnance Station, Louisville (NOSL), 
     which employs several hundred Indiana residents, is being 
     privatized. These closures have had a significant impact on 
     communities throughout the state. My efforts have focused on 
     promoting commercial uses at these installations.


                        jefferson proving ground

       The Army formally closed JPG last year, and efforts are 
     under way to find productive uses for the 55,000 acre 
     property. A local businessman won an open competition to 
     acquire the 3,400-acre cantonment area, the built-up area 
     south of the firing line. He is now farming the open land and 
     marketing the buildings. An additional 230 acres have been 
     set aside for a county park. The acreage north of the firing 
     line has significant contamination problems. The Army 
     estimates that over 1 million rounds of unexploded ordnance 
     litter the firing range, significantly limiting possible 
     reuses of the property. It appears likely that most of the 
     property will remain wilderness, with perhaps some limited 
     access, in time, to the Old Timbers Lodge and other specific 
     areas, and that the Indiana Air Guard will continue to run 
     training flights into the range.


                     indiana army ammunition plant

       The Army inactivated the ammo plant in Charlestown in 
     October 1992, but chose not to sell the installation because 
     it wants to be able to reactivate the black powder plant at 
     the facility in the event of a national emergency. The key 
     now is finding productive uses for other portions of the 
     facility. ICI, the plant contractor, has contracted with the 
     Army to use the resources at the installation for commercial 
     development, and has succeeded in attracting 62 businesses, 
     employing over 600 people, to the plant. ICI is now working 
     to locate larger tenants to the property. I have taken the 
     lead in establishing a 2000-acre state park at the far 
     eastern end of the installation. The new Charlestown Park, to 
     be opened later this year, will be an outstanding addition to 
     the state park system, along a scenic stretch of the Ohio 
     River.


                   naval ordnance station, Louisville

       The Base Closure and Realignment Commission voted last year 
     to close NOSL, but gave the Navy the option of privatizing 
     the installation rather than relocating the activities to 
     other facilities. I opposed the decision to close, but now 
     that the decision has been made, have been working to keep 
     good-paying jobs in the greater Louisville area. Under the 
     current plan, two contractors will perform Navy work on site 
     and hire most of the current workforce by mid-August.


                               conclusion

       We have had some setbacks with the recent base closings, 
     but are making progress on redevelopment of these properties. 
     We are also making headway on key infrastructure projects, 
     such as the I-265 bridge. I am committed to working with 
     local leaders on these and other job-creation efforts.

                          ____________________