[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 88 (Tuesday, June 12, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1041]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE FLOOD PROTECTION PUBLIC SAFETY ACT OF 2012

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                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 12, 2012

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, Sacramento's flood risk is well documented. 
It is the most at-risk metropolitan area for major flooding in our 
nation. It is home to California's State Capitol, an international 
airport, and half a million people. If Sacramento were to flood the 
economic damages could reach up to $40 billion dollars.
  A critical component for protecting Sacramento from a disaster is the 
Natomas Levee Improvement Project. Local taxpayers have voted to tax 
themselves on two separate occasions to pay for this project. Moreover, 
in the absence of federal participation, the state and local 
governments have already completed 18 miles of levee improvements and 
will have spent upwards of $350 million on the project by the end of 
this year.
  The federal government has not been able to support this crucial 
flood protection project, because of the current ban on earmarks and 
this Congress's challenges in investing in our nation's infrastructure. 
The result of this is that construction is expected to stop this year 
leaving 100,000 of my constituents at risk.
  While I realize and appreciate that the authorization of Army Corps 
of Engineers projects is not within the purview of the Appropriations 
Committee, the topic is nonetheless important to raise. The underlying 
problem is the absolute prohibition against ``earmarks'' our Majority 
has imposed on this body, which is impeding our ability to our job. 
This moratorium has resulted in the stopping routine authorizing 
legislation our constituents badly need: a new Water Resources 
Development Act bill. Working with the Corps of Engineers, we have 
accomplished every conceivable review, documentation and approval 
requirement for this project to go forward, but Congress has still yet 
to act on the legislation necessary to move forward with these badly 
needed projects.
  The completed Chief's Report for this project was sent to Congress by 
the Corps over a year ago yet no action has taken place. One hundred 
thousand people, an international airport, hundreds of small 
businesses, a number of schools remain at risk. It is my sincere hope 
our Majority will reexamine its current moratorium to ensure local 
needs can be met. Everyone can agree that we must bring an end to 
wasteful, unjustified projects. But in our effort to throw out the 
wasteful, we've also thrown out the very worthy, and people's lives and 
livelihood are in jeopardy.
  To address the unjustified yet real prohibition resulting from the 
``earmark'' label, I introduced legislation last month that is in full 
compliance with the House's rules: H.R. 4353, the ``Flood Protection 
Public Safety Act of 2012.'' This bill authorizes flood protection 
projects that have a completed Army Corps of Engineers Chief's Report 
that have been sent to Congress for approval. The bill would allow a 
small number of flood protection projects across the nation to move 
forward including those in Sacramento, Topeka, Cedar Rapids, and North 
Dakota.
  Congress faces a choice. Invest in our infrastructure today, or pay 
the price of recovering from a disaster tomorrow. We can all agree that 
preventing a disaster is a much wiser and cheaper solution.
  Though an authorization is outside the scope of the bill pending 
before us, I ask that this body forge a responsible, sensible policy on 
so-called earmarks, a policy that continues to stop wasteful projects 
but allows and even promotes worthwhile initiatives.
  For 200 years the federal government has been a partner with the 
states to provide for the public's safety. I urge my colleagues on the 
other side of the aisle to revise the current moratorium that is 
preventing Congress from responding to urgent public safety needs 
across the nation. I believe these matters are integral to the House of 
Representatives as a body and deserve each of our attention.
  I have written to the House's leadership urging them to revise this 
body's rules and provided responsible ways to ensure taxpayer money is 
protected, while allowing fully vetted projects to move forward.
  I look forward to working with you and our colleagues in the House in 
a bipartisan manner to address responsible reforms that will ensure 
critical public safety challenges are met, while ensuring taxpayer 
money is being spent wisely. It is my hope we can responsibly resolve 
this issue in a timely manner.

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