[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 87 (Tuesday, June 18, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H3745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1900
                   DREDGING OUR NATION'S SMALL PORTS

  (Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to 
the issue of dredging our Nation's small ports, a critical issue for 
hardworking folks in Washington State, southwest Washington, in 
particular, in Wahkiakum County, Chinook, Ilwaco and other parts of my 
district.
  This is a job issue in my region and for those along waterways 
throughout our Nation. The issue is this: ports are lifelines to 
several towns and communities across the Columbia River and the Pacific 
Coast in my district, and they are literally being choked off by lack 
of maintenance dredging.
  One of my local newspapers, the Chinook Observer, commented, if a 
farmer were unable to ship his wheat because a road became impassable 
within our Federal highway system, the Federal Government would rightly 
fix this issue immediately.
  It is no different for the dire circumstances facing our Nation's 
navigable waterways. We need to address this issue as soon as possible.
  As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I've taken action in 
search of a swift solution. And thankfully, the committee included $1 
billion out of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for dredging and 
maintenance of waterways in our Energy and Water Development 
appropriations bill.
  We must maintain our Nation's maritime ports.

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