[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 29, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1845-E1846]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 4060, ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 28, 1998

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 
4060, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations for Fiscal Year 
1999. I support this bill mainly because it provides $1,429,885 million 
for the Army Corps of Engineers construction programs. I am especially 
grateful that the conference agreement includes language proposed by 
the House to reimburse the non-Federal sponsor a portion of the Federal 
share of project costs for the White Oak Bayou, Texas project.
  The Administration originally requested $9.4 million for the 
continued construction of the Sims Bayou Project in Houston, Texas. The 
Conference Committee specifically earmarked a total amount of $12 
Million for the Sims Bayou project.
  Mr. Speaker, the Sims Bayou Project is a project that stretches 
through my district. Over the course of recent years, the Sims Bayou 
has seen massive amounts of flooding. Citizens in my congressional 
district, have been flooded out of their homes, and their lives have 
been disrupted.
  In 1994, 759 homes were flooded as a result of the overflow from the 
Sims Bayou. That is 759 families that were forced to leave their homes.
  I mainly support the conference report, Mr. Speaker, because the 
subcommittee has earmarked in this bill $12 million for the 
construction and improvement of the Sims Bayou

[[Page E1846]]

project that will soon be underway by the Army Corps of Engineers.
  I would like to thank the Army Corps of Engineers for their 
cooperation in bringing relief to the people of the 18th Congressional 
District in order to avoid dangerous flooding.
  I am quite certain Mr. Speaker that this project would not have been 
able to go forward if this additional money would not have been granted 
by the conference committee.
  For that I have to thank Chairman McDade, Ranking Member Fazio, and 
my friends and colleagues, Chet Edwards and Mike Parker who sit on the 
Appropriations Committee.
  This must be done and I will work with the Army Corps of Engineers 
and local officials to ensure that this is done. I urge my colleagues 
to vote `yes'' on this conference report.

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