[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 13405-13406]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          DEAUTHORIZING PORTION OF POTOMAC RIVER WATER PROJECT

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5545) to deauthorize a portion of the project for 
navigation, Potomac River, Washington Channel, District of Columbia, 
under the jurisdiction of the Corps of Engineers.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5545

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. PROJECT FOR NAVIGATION, WASHINGTON CHANNEL, 
                   DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

       Upon the date of enactment of this Act, the following 
     portion of the project for navigation, Potomac River, 
     Washington Channel, District of Columbia, authorized by the 
     Act of August 30, 1935 (chapter 831; 49 Stat. 1028) is 
     deauthorized: Beginning at Washington Harbor Channel Geometry 
     Centerline of the 400-foot-wide main navigational ship 
     channel, Centerline Station No. 103+73.12, coordinates North 
     441948.20, East 1303969.30, as stated and depicted on the 
     Condition Survey Anacostia, Virginia, Washington and Magazine 
     Bar Shoal Channels, Washington, D.C., Sheet 6 of 6, prepared 
     by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore 
     district, July 2007; thence departing the aforementioned 
     centerline traveling the following courses and distances: N. 
     40 degrees 10 minutes 45 seconds E., 200.00 feet to a point, 
     on the outline of said 400-foot-wide channel thence binding 
     on said outline the following three courses and distances: S. 
     49 degrees 49 minutes 15 seconds E., 1,507.86 feet to a 
     point, thence; S. 29 degrees 44 minutes 42 seconds E., 
     2,083.17 feet to a point, thence; S. 11 degrees 27 minutes 04 
     seconds E., 363.00 feet to a point, thence; S. 78 degrees 32 
     minutes 56 seconds W., 200.00 feet to a point binding on the 
     centerline of the 400-foot-wide main navigational channel at 
     computed Centerline Station No. 65+54.31, coordinates North 
     438923.9874, East 1306159.9738, thence; continuing with the 
     aforementioned centerline the following courses and 
     distances: N. 11 degrees 27 minutes 04 seconds W., 330.80 
     feet to a point, Centerline Station No. 68+85.10, thence; N. 
     29 degrees 44 minutes 42 seconds W., 2,015.56 feet to a 
     point, Centerline Station No. 89+00.67, thence; N. 49 degrees 
     49 minutes 15 seconds W., 1,472.26 feet to the point of 
     beginning, such area in total containing a computed area of 
     777,284 square feet or 17.84399 acres of riparian water way.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. LoBiondo) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.


                             General Leave

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5545.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I rise to support H.R. 5545.
  This noncontroversial bill will allow development of the Southwest 
Waterfront in the District of Columbia. This bill will benefit not only 
residents here, but also regional residents and U.S. and international 
visitors by permitting the District to extend docks and increase 
maritime activity just a short eyeshot from the U.S. Capitol building.
  In order for the District to make these improvements, the Federal 
Government must redesignate part of the water designated by the Federal 
Government as the Washington Channel so that more and larger docks can 
be built by the District to accommodate increased boating and waterside 
activity.
  The original width of the Washington Channel was established in the 
early 1800s to accommodate industrial and maritime commerce at the 
Southwest Waterfront prior to the construction of East Potomac Park.
  Today, however, the Southwest Waterfront is no longer a major port, 
and does not accommodate large vessels. In fact, the U.S. Coast Guard, 
the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have agreed that 
this redesignation will not affect navigation interests or adversely 
affect navigation safety.
  I ask Members to support this noncontroversial change that will 
reinvigorate the Southwest Waterfront for the city, region, and 
visitors alike to enjoy.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LoBIONDO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Today we're considering the deauthorization of a portion of a 
navigation channel in Washington, DC. The Washington Channel was 
authorized in 1935. Ms. Norton's bill would deauthorize a small portion 
of the project that is no longer necessary to ensure safe commercial 
navigation along the northern end of the Washington Channel. Neither 
the Army Corps of Engineers nor the U.S. Coast Guard has objections to 
this change in the Federal navigation channel.
  The bill is noncontroversial. There are no costs associated with 
deauthorizing this portion of the Washington Channel. I fully support 
passage, and recommend my colleagues vote for and approve H.R. 5545.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Almost 10 years ago this House approved a bill to revitalize the 
Southeast Waterfront. The Southeast Federal Center is now being 
reinvigorated just down the street from the Southwest Waterfront. It is 
now called The Yards.
  I very much appreciate that this House understood that it was far 
better for the Southeast Waterfront, owned by the Federal Government, 
to be revitalized than to lie fallow. And already, it is blossoming and 
blooming.
  But the Southwest Waterfront has been awaiting concurrent action, not 
by this House, and not at the expense of the Federal Government, but by 
the District of Columbia.
  This action, the action of the House today, should this bill be 
passed, will allow the District of Columbia to move forward on a multi-
use development of the Southwest Waterfront, to which tourists and 
international visitors are always welcome, and will be even more 
welcome because it will be fit. It will be a fit place to come and see.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5545, a bill 
to deauthorize a portion of the project for navigation, Potomac River, 
Washington Channel, District of Columbia, under the jurisdiction of the 
Corps of Engineers.
  This bill deauthorizes one-half of the Federal navigation project 
width of the Washington Channel, District of Columbia. The channel 
deauthorization runs from the northern limit of the Federal navigation 
project to just south of the Maine Police pier which includes the 
Spirit Ship Dock.
  The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure consulted with the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Navy 
regarding this proposed deauthorization and we have not been made aware 
of any opposition to the proposed deauthorization of this segment of 
the Washington Channel, District of Columbia. This non-controversial 
bill was reported favorably out of our Committee by voice vote, without 
amendment.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5545.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in support 
of H.R. 5545. H.R. 5545 would deauthorize one-half of the federal 
navigation project width of the Potomac River, Washington Channel, 
District of Columbia.
  This change to the width of the navigation channel will enable 
Washington, DC to better develop and utilize the waterfront near this 
channel.
  To ensure that this action will not affect public safety, Committee 
staff checked with the Coast Guard, Navy, and Corps of Engineers. None 
of these agencies oppose the deauthorization of the segment of channel.
  I am unaware of any controversy concerning this legislation, and I 
ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5545.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page 13406]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5545.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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