[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 178 (Friday, December 9, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S7010]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                  WRDA

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I would like to highlight several 
provisions I worked to secure in the water resources bill that will be 
a great benefit to Kentucky and to my constituents. Included in the 
Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act is a provision I 
have worked on with Paducah Mayor Gayle Kaler, Paducah city manager 
Jeff Pederson, and Paducah city engineer Rick Murphy that will advance 
a critical and comprehensive flood wall infrastructure project to 
better protect residents and businesses in Paducah from flooding.
  The bill also includes an important provision that directs the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers to transfer certain inoperable lock and dam 
infrastructure along the Green and Barren Rivers in Kentucky to State 
and local entities. My Green and Barren Rivers provision will allow 
communities to remove certain aging infrastructure in an effort to 
enhance river-based recreation and tourism. This language also allows 
the Rochester Dam Regional Water Commission to take control of the 
Rochester Dam--a critical water source for citizens and employers in 
six counties--so the dam can be repaired and better maintained. In this 
effort, I would like to thank David Phemister and Mike Hensley with the 
Kentucky Nature Conservancy, as well as members and supporters of the 
Rochester Dam Regional Water Commission, including Butler County Judge 
Executive David Fields, Walt Beasley with the Ohio County Water 
District, Damon Talley, and Gary Larimore with the Kentucky Rural Water 
Association.

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