[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 4, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H2144]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DEEPENING THE SAVANNAH RIVER
(Mr. KINGSTON asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, in Georgia, 352,000 jobs are related to
the Port of Savannah. It is a major export facility exporting 62
percent of the goods that go through there.
We would have even more jobs if we deepened the Savannah River from
42 to 47 feet. In fact, the payoff, the cost-benefit analysis is a
dollar spent and a $5.50 return. Yet, after 14 years and $41 million
worth of study, Congress, the bureaucracy, just barely has said let's
go forward.
Congress, in January, signaled that we had had enough; cut the red
tape, get the project moving, and classified it as a project under
construction.
The President and Vice President have repeatedly said they support
the project, yet, to my shock, and those of us in Congress, in their
budget, which just has come out, they have not funded this important
job-creating project. I do not understand it.
I am astounded by an administration who claims to say this is the
year of action. Why would they not move forward on deepening the
Savannah River?
Three hundred and fifty-two thousand jobs are related to this, cost-
benefit analysis of 1 to 5.5. Yet, the administration continues to
dither.
____________________