[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 85 (Thursday, June 29, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2001

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                               speech of

                           HON. JERRY WELLER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 27, 2000

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4733) making 
     appropriations for energy and water development for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, and for other 
     purposes.

  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to give my strong support to 
H.R. 4733, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 2001. 
The legislation supports two important priorites, the restoration of 
the Kankakee River and the construction of the Tunnel and River 
Project.
  The Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 2001 provides 
resources to continue environmental cleanup and restoration of the 
Kankakee River, a critical habitat for wildlife and one of Illinois' 
greatest treasures. For years, the Kankakee River has been choked by 
sand and sedimentation. This legislation continues the funding of 
studies to cleanup the River and solve its problems.
  Mr. Chairman, I am especially pleased that the Appropriations 
Committee has provided $600,000 for the ongoing Army Corps of Engineers 
Feasibility Study of the Kankakee River and $300,000 for the State Line 
Sand Removal Project. The goals of these projects will be to restore 
the natural hydrology and aquatic habitat back to the river, the 
removal of excessive sand buildup, the restoration of adjacent 
wetlands, and the reintroduction of native mussels into their natural 
habitat. The cleanup and restoration of the Kankakee River deserves 
high priority; the legislation before us today recognizes the 
importance of this project.
  Additionally, the Committee awarded $7.8 million for the construction 
funding for the McCook and Thornton Reservoir projects of the 
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. The McCook 
and Thornton Reservoirs are part of the Chicago Underflow Plan, a 
comprehensive flood protection and water quality protection plan for 
the Chicago metropolitan area.
  Mr. Chairman, this system has been enormously effective in achieving 
its goals as evidenced by the elimination of 86 percent of combined 
sewage pollution in a 325 square mile area. The result of this progress 
is the dramatic increase in water quality of the Chicagoland waterways 
and the protection of Lake Michigan, our drinking water source. 131,000 
home owners rely on the continued construction of the ``Deep Tunnel'' 
flood relief and clean water project. This appropriation will add to 
the $30 million already appropriated for flood relief in the South 
Suburbs and will eventually produce $104 million in savings and 
benefits annually.
  Mr. Chairman, I commend the hard work of Chairman Packard and 
Chairman Young and urge my colleagues to support this good legislation.




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