[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 106 (Friday, July 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1331]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2012

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                               speech of

                         HON. ROBERT J. WITTMAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, July 8, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2354) making 
     appropriations for energy and water development and related 
     agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and 
     for other purposes:

  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Chair, I would like to address some concerns from my 
constituents about the Army Corps of Engineers permitting process.
   As I travel around Virginia's First District, I hear from many 
constituents about their frustration with policies and regulations from 
Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, large federal government bureaucracies 
can get out of control and fail to protect the citizens and taxpayers.
   The Army Corps of Engineers is an important agency in coastal 
Virginia. They have many responsibilities to promote navigation, 
commerce and environmental restoration. However, there are some 
occasions where I believe the multiple levels of bureaucracy and lack 
of accountability of decision makers can lead to situations that are 
unfair to Americans.
   I've worked on the behalf of one of my constituents, a small marina 
owner who believes he was harmed due to a permitting mistake by the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In this case a permitting decision 
ultimately cost this small business a significant amount of money.
   I raise these issues to highlight the impact Agency action can have 
on main street businesses. I raise these issues to suggest the need for 
additional accountability to ensure that Army Corps permitting 
decisions are made appropriately and that the Corps works hand in hand 
with small businesses to mitigate financial harm.

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