[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 52 (Thursday, March 26, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S3932]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. Specter, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Schumer, 
        Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Casey):
  S. 732. A bill to amend the National Dam Safety Program Act to 
establish a program to provide grant assistance to States for the 
rehabilitation and repair of deficient dams; to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I seek recognition to comment on my 
cosponsorship of the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2009 and 
clarify my intent with respect to Davis-Bacon prevailing wage 
requirements under this bill.
  This bill would establish a grant program within the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency to provide assistance to states for the 
rehabilitation of publicly-owned dams that fail to meet minimum safety 
standards. I am cosponsoring this bill because it is my understanding 
that there are at least 3,040 deficient dams in the United States, 
including 369 in Pennsylvania. These dams pose an unacceptable level of 
risk to the public and should be rehabilitated expeditiously.
  I cosponsored similar legislation in the 110th Congress, however, I 
am advised that it was not considered by the Committee on Environment 
and Public Works due to concerns over language in the bill which would 
have required that dam repair work funded under the act adhere to 
Davis-Bacon locally prevailing wage requirements. As a result, this 
year's version of the bill, as introduced, does not contain Davis-Bacon 
prevailing wage requirements out of deference to the Ranking Member of 
the Committee. However, I am a strong supporter of Davis-Bacon, having 
voted in favor of preserving it 23 separate times on the Senate floor 
since 1982. Accordingly, it is my intention to work to reinsert Davis-
Bacon requirements into the bill either in committee or on the Senate 
floor.

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