[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 78 (Thursday, May 22, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           WATER RESOURCES REFORM AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2014

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                               speech of

                           HON. DOUG COLLINS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2014

  Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I strongly commend Chairman 
Shuster and Ranking Member Rahall for bringing conference report for 
the Water Resources and Reform Development Act to the floor. It 
represents a great bipartisan effort on one of Congress' true article 
one responsibilities, providing for America's infrastructure. In 
northeast Georgia, the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) means 
jobs. Georgia's 9th Congressional District shipped more than 10,780 
tons of goods through Georgia ports in 2013 alone. As a member of the 
Georgia House of Representatives, I fought for Georgia's investment in 
SHEP to get the project moving, and now as a member of the United 
States House of Representatives, I'm proud to vote in favor of the 
federal government living up to its promise of matching funds. 
Deepening this harbor from 42 to 47 feet will allow new supertankers to 
use the port to transport Georgia products all over the world.
  There are a number of good reforms in this bill that will increase 
efficiency and reduce the cost of upcoming projects. A provision of the 
bill will limit the length and cost of Army Corps of Engineers 
feasibility studies, so that projects can be completed on schedule and 
on budget. This bill deauthorizes over $18 billion of old, inactive 
projects, more than offsetting the authorizations in this bill. WRRDA 
also sunsets the authorization of any project authorized by the bill 
after 7 years if construction has not begun.
  Any piece of legislation aimed at reform has room for improvement. 
Language included in the underlying bill regarding the Apalachicola-
Chattahoochee-Flint River (ACF) and the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa River 
(ACT) Systems was far from perfect. No language in this bill implies 
any Congressional intent to interfere with states' work on this 
important issue. This dispute has been ongoing for a number of years, 
and Congress interjecting will not bring about a more favorable outcome 
to any of the parties involved. Water supply disputes are best handled 
at the state level, and I trust that the governors of the affected 
states will come together and resolve the issue without Congressional 
intervention.
  Overall, I am very supportive of this bill and urge its adoption.

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