[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 14 (Tuesday, February 15, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E145-E146]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO ROBERT S. JOE, LOS ANGELES DISTRICT, U.S. ARMY CORPS OF 
                               ENGINEERS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 15, 2000

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, for a number of years now, my 
colleague, Mr. Calvert, and I have worked closely with the Army Corps 
of Engineers on one of the largest flood-control projects now under way 
in our nation. The Santa Ana River Mainstem flood control system, which 
is well on its way to completion, will protect millions of southern 
California residents and save billions of dollars in property from 
potentially devastating floods. We would like today to pay tribute to 
the man who oversaw this project: Mr. Robert A. Joe, the Deputy 
District Engineer for Programs and Project Management of the corps' Los 
Angeles District.
  The Los Angeles District is one of the largest Corps of Engineers 
districts in the contiguous 48 states, covering 226,000 square miles in 
southern California, southern Nevada, and all of Arizona. They operate 
in the second largest urban area in the United States, as well as the 
booming growth areas of Phoenix and Las Vegas. Activities directed by 
Bob Joe have ranged from the deepening of Los Angeles Harbor--one of 
the largest in the world--to massive flood control projects protecting 
millions of people throughout southern California, to the environmental 
restoration of the Rio Salado through Tempe and Phoenix.
  Bob Joe has directed this $300 million annual operation since August 
1998--the highlight of a nearly 30-year career with the Los Angeles 
district that also saw him lead the planning division for 11 years. 
Throughout this time, southern California has benefited from the corps 
work in preventing flood damage, improving our harbors, and protecting 
our valuable coastal property.
  Mr. Calvert and I recently attended the dedication of perhaps the 
most important corps project in our Inland Empire--the Seven Oaks Dam 
in the San Bernardino Mountains. Completion of this dam--on time and on 
budget--will save thousands of homeowners along the Santa Ana River 
thousands of dollars a year in flood insurance. We believe it is an 
accomplishment that will bring pride to the entire corps. Mr. Joe has 
also been of indispensable help in accomplishing stabilization of the 
Norco Bluffs and beginning a flood control

[[Page E146]]

project along San Timoteo Creek--projects of immense importance to our 
constituents.
  Mr. Speaker, we recently learned that Bob Joe will soon retire from 
the corps. We ask you and all of our colleagues to join us and 
expressing our gratitude for his years of tremendous service to 
southern California and the Southwest, and wishing him well in his 
future professional endeavors.

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