[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 151 (Tuesday, November 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2366]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2419, ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 9, 2005

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this conference report.
  I would first like to thank the Chairman of the Subcommittee, Mr. 
Hobson, and the Ranking Member, Mr. Visclosky, for their work in 
putting together the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, and in 
negotiating with the Senate on this conference report.
  I also want to thank both of them for including $48 million in the 
conference report to continue funding the Port of Oakland's 50-foot 
dredging project in my district in California, and for including 
$5,585,000 for Operations and Maintenance.
  As the fourth largest container port in the country, the Port of 
Oakland serves as one of our premier international trade gateways to 
Asia and the Pacific.
  The 50-foot dredging project will underpin an $800 million expansion 
project funded by the Port that will improve infrastructure, expand 
capacity and increase efficiencies throughout the distribution chain.
  Once this project is finished, the Port projects that an additional 
8,800 jobs will be added, business revenue will increase by $1.9 
billion, and local tax revenues will go up by $55.5 million. Best of 
all, 100 percent of the dredged materials will be reused for wetlands 
restoration, habitat enhancement, and upland use within the San 
Francisco Bay Area.
  I appreciate the Subcommittee's support for this project and I look 
forward to continuing to work with the chairman and ranking member to 
complete it.

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