[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 27, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H7622-H7624]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         DAM SAFETY ACT OF 2006

  Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 4981) to amend the National Dam Safety Program Act, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4981

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Dam Safety Act of 2006''.

     SEC. 2. NATIONAL DAM INVENTORY.

       Section 6 of the National Dam Safety Program Act (33 U.S.C. 
     467d) is amended to read as follows:

[[Page H7623]]

     ``SEC. 6. NATIONAL DAM INVENTORY.

       ``The Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of 
     Engineers, shall maintain and update information on the 
     inventory of dams in the United States. Such inventory of 
     dams shall include an assessment of each dam based on 
     inspections completed by either a Federal agency or a State 
     dam safety agency.''.

     SEC. 3. NATIONAL DAM SAFETY PROGRAM.

       Section 8(b)(1) of the National Dam Safety Program Act (33 
     U.S.C. 467f(b)(1)) is amended by striking ``and target dates 
     to'' and inserting ``performance measures, and target dates 
     toward effectively administering this Act in order to''.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Section 13 of the National Dam Safety Program Act (33 
     U.S.C. 467j) is amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 13. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``(a) National Dam Safety Program.--
       ``(1) Annual amounts.--There are authorized to be 
     appropriated to FEMA to carry out sections 7, 8, and 11 (in 
     addition to any amounts made available for similar purposes 
     included in any other Act and amounts made available under 
     subsections (b) through (e)) $6,500,000 for fiscal year 2007, 
     $7,100,000 for fiscal year 2008, $7,600,000 for fiscal year 
     2009, $8,300,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $9,200,000 for 
     fiscal year 2011. Such sums shall remain available until 
     expended.
       ``(2) Allocation.--
       ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), 
     for each fiscal year, amounts made available under this 
     subsection to carry out section 8 shall be allocated among 
     the States as follows:
       ``(i) One-third among States that qualify for assistance 
     under section 8(e).
       ``(ii) Two-thirds among States that qualify for assistance 
     under section 8(e), to each State in proportion to--

       ``(I) the number of dams in the State that are listed as 
     State-regulated dams on the inventory of dams maintained 
     under section 6; as compared to
       ``(II) the number of dams in all States that are listed as 
     State-regulated dams on the inventory of dams maintained 
     under section 6.

       ``(B) Maximum amount of allocation.--The amount of funds 
     allocated to a State under this paragraph may not exceed 50 
     percent of the reasonable cost of implementing the State dam 
     safety program.
       ``(C) Determination.--The Director and the Board shall 
     determine the amount allocated to States.
       ``(b) National Dam Inventory.--There is authorized to be 
     appropriated to carry out section 6 $650,000 for fiscal year 
     2007, $700,000 for fiscal year 2008, $750,000 for fiscal year 
     2009, $800,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $850,000 for fiscal 
     year 2011.
       ``(c) Research.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out section 9 $1,600,000 for fiscal year 2007, 
     $1,700,000 for fiscal year 2008, $1,800,000 for fiscal year 
     2009, $1,900,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $2,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2011. Such sums shall remain available until 
     expended.
       ``(d) Dam Safety Training.--There is authorized to be 
     appropriated to carry out section 10 $550,000 for fiscal year 
     2007, $600,000 for fiscal year 2008, $650,000 for fiscal year 
     2009, $700,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $750,000 for fiscal 
     year 2011.
       ``(e) Staff.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
     FEMA for the employment of such additional staff personnel as 
     are necessary to carry out sections 8 through 10 $700,000 for 
     fiscal year 2007, $800,000 for fiscal year 2008, $900,000 for 
     fiscal year 2009, $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and 
     $1,100,000 for fiscal year 2011.
       ``(f) Limitation on Use of Amounts.--Amounts made available 
     under this Act may not be used to construct or repair any 
     Federal or non-Federal dam.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Kuhl) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
  Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 4981, as amended, reauthorizes the National Dam Safety Program 
for 5 years through fiscal year 2011. It makes minor improvements to 
the national inventory of dams. The existing program authorization 
expires in just 3 days at the end of September.
  The National Dam Safety Program is administered by the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, commonly known as FEMA, and was 
established to improve safety and security around dams. The program 
provides assistance grants to State dam safety agencies to assist them 
in improving their regulatory programs, training and research, and to 
create a national inventory of dams.
  According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of 
Dams, there are nearly 2,000 dams in New York State, of which 133 are 
in my congressional district alone. Some of these high-hazard dams 
include the Almond Dam in Steuben County; the Canadice Lake Dam in 
Ontario County; the Cuba Lake Dam in Allegany County; and the Keuka 
Lake Outlet Dam in Yates County.
  Of those 133 dams, 30 of them are considered to be high hazard and 41 
are significant hazard. That means if there is a failure, and I 
underline, there is a high risk of death and destruction, high risk of 
death and destruction, according to the American Society of Civil 
Engineers.
  Reauthorization of this program is necessary to continue the program 
and benefit the research, development of information technology, and 
the training of State dam safety officials who are considered the 
Nation's first line of defense from dam failures.
  I support this bill and encourage my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4981, the Dam Safety Act of 
2006, which reauthorizes and amends the National Dam Safety program. 
The program's goal is to reduce the risks to life and property by 
establishing an effective national dam safety maintenance program that 
utilizes the resources and expertise of the Federal and non-Federal 
communities to achieve the reduction of dam safety hazards. In other 
words, one of the primary purposes of the National Dam Safety program 
is to provide financial assistance to the States for strengthening 
their dam safety program.
  Since the passage of the National Dam Safety Program Act in 1996, the 
program has improved the Nation's dam safety. Dam safety inspections 
have increased; State training programs have been enhanced; and 
research in the area of improving dam safety has increased.
  Additionally, in light of our Nation's need to protect our 
infrastructure from possible terrorist attacks, the National Dam Safety 
Review Board has established the Dam Safety Security Task Force to 
facilitate dialogue and offer technical assistance and support on 
security-related policy and guidance, and there has been an increase in 
the development of dam safety and security emergency action plans.
  H.R. 4981, the Dam Safety Act of 2006, seeks to build upon these 
achievements made over the past several years and enhance them. The 
bill strengthens the act by improving the national dam inventory, and 
encourages States to improve State dam safety programs and increase 
reauthorization levels of the various components of the act.
  Mr. Speaker, many people are not aware that there are approximately 
80,000 dams in the United States. Of these, approximately 10,000 dams 
are considered to have high hazard potential, meaning their failure 
could result in loss of life or severe property damage. It is critical 
that we help to ensure the safety and security of these dams.
  H.R. 4981, the Dam Safety Act of 2006, is a good bill, has bipartisan 
support, and I urge its passage.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4981, the 
Dam Safety Act of 2006, as amended, which reauthorizes and amends the 
National Dam Safety Program. The National Dam Safety Program is a 
partnership of the States, Federal agencies, and other stakeholders to 
encourage individual and community responsibility for dam safety.
  The purpose of the National Dam Safety Program is to ``reduce the 
risks to life and property from dam failure in the United States 
through the establishment and maintenance of an effective national dam 
safety program to bring together the expertise and resources of the 
federal and non-federal communities in achieving national dam safety 
hazard reduction.''
  H.R. 4981 reauthorizes the National Dam Safety Program through fiscal 
year 2011. The dam safety program, administered by the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency--FEMA--provides grants to State regulatory 
agencies, funds research projects aimed at improving dam safety, and 
trains safety officials and dam operators.
  Of the 79,777 public and private dams in the United States, there are 
currently 11,811 high hazard dams across the country. If one of these 
dams fails, it could cost lives and damage the economy and the 
environment. From 2000 to 2006, the number of high hazard dams 
increased by almost 20 percent.
  These dams can pose a significant threat. Between 1999 and 2004, 
States reported 1,090 dam safety incidents, including 125 failures. 
Deficient or unsafe dams mean that these dams have been identified as 
having hydrologic or structural deficiencies that make

[[Page H7624]]

them susceptible to a failure triggered by a large storm event, an 
earthquake, progressive deterioration, or inadequate maintenance. 
Currently, States have identified approximately 3,400 dams as being 
deficient or unsafe--an increase of 33 percent since 1998.
  Since the creation of the National Dam Safety Program in 1996, dam 
safety inspections have increased significantly. In addition, the 
program has provided funding to increase the amount and the quality of 
dam safety research and has increased the amount of direct assistance 
for training State officials and providing technical seminars and 
workshops.
  Presently, many States lack the financial resources to effectively 
carry out the program and many State regulatory programs lack the 
support they require at a time when these critical program funds are 
truly needed. Clearly, there is a need for this program, the funds it 
provides, and the technical support it offers States.
  Mr. Speaker, I support the bill and urge its approval.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I have no other requests for time. 
I would just like to thank my colleague from the other side of the 
aisle, Ms. Brown, for her support of this bill and certainly to my 
colleagues Mr. Matheson and Mr. Abercrombie for their cosponsorship of 
this bill; and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Kuhl) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 4981, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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