[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 143 (Tuesday, October 14, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12543-S12544]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DOMENICI:
  S. 1727. A bill to authorize additional appropriations for the 
Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978; to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce crucial 
legislation regarding the safety of America's Dams. Ensuring the safety 
of the Bureau of Reclamation's dams must be a national priority. One of 
the surest ways to protect the integrity of this existing 
infrastructure is to ensure that adequate funding is accessible to 
properly maintain and rehabilitate these great structures.
  The Bureau of Reclamation has existing authority that would allow 
them to expend approximately $974 million dollars on Safety of Dam 
Projects; but only $109 million dollars of this authorization remains 
uncommitted. By the end of fiscal year 2002, over 61 dam modifications 
had been completed under existing authority. Over the next several 
years, at least 46 projects have been identified as critical. 
Unfortunately, these projects alone represent an additional 
authorization need of close to $540 million. Thus, a huge gap exists 
and it is something we must correct. The bill that I am introducing 
today, would raise the current ceiling on the Safety of Dams Program to 
meet the additional $540 million needed and by so doing to meet the 
needs already identified by Reclamation in 11 of the 17 Reclamation 
States.
  Let me take a few moments to highlight exactly what it is I am 
talking about. The United States Bureau of Reclamation currently has 
reservoirs impounded by 457 dams and dikes. Of these structures, 362 
dams and dikes would likely cause loss of life if they were to fail. 
These 362 structures, located at 252 different project facilities, form 
the core of Reclamation's Dam Safety Program.
  Approximately 50 percent of Reclamation's dams were built between 
1900 and 1950. Additionally, an estimated 90 percent of the dams were 
built before currently used state-of-the-art design and construction 
practices. A strong dam safety program must be maintained to identify 
potential adverse performance within Reclamation's inventory of aging 
dams and to carry out corrective actions expeditiously when 
unreasonable public risk is identified.
  I plan to take action on this measure during this Congress and I urge 
my colleagues to join with me in ensuring the safety and reliability of 
these dams. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1727

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE 
                   RECLAMATION SAFETY OF DAMS ACT OF 1978.

       (a) Reimbursement of Certain Modification Costs.--Section 
     4(c) of the Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 (43 U.S.C. 
     508(c)) is amended by striking ``(c) With respect to''

[[Page S12544]]

     and all that follows through ``2001'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(c) Reimbursement of Certain Modification Costs.--With 
     respect to the additional amounts authorized to be 
     appropriated by section 5''.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 5 of the 
     Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 (43 U.S.C. 509) is 
     amended in the first sentence--
       (1) by striking ``and effective October 1, 2001'' and 
     inserting ``effective October 1, 2001'';
       (2) by inserting ``and, effective October 1, 2003, not to 
     exceed an additional $540,000,000 (October 1, 2003, price 
     levels),'' after ``(October 1, 2001, price levels),''; and
       (3) by striking ``$750,000'' and inserting ``$1,250,000 
     (October 1, 2003, price levels), as adjusted to reflect any 
     ordinary fluctuations in construction costs indicated by 
     applicable engineering cost indexes,''.
                                 ______