[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 33 (Monday, August 23, 1999)]
[Pages 1645-1646]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing the Water Resources Development Act of 1999

August 17, 1999

    Today I have signed into law S. 507, the ``Water Resources 
Development Act of 1999,'' a multibillion dollar omnibus bill to 
authorize water projects and programs of the United States Army Corps of 
Engineers. I am pleased that the Act includes some program reforms, as 
well as a number of authorizations for projects and programs that are 
important to the Nation, but I also have serious reservations about this 
bill.
    I am pleased that the bill increases flood protection for 
Sacramento, California, and that the Congress accepted a reform proposed 
by my Administration to optimize the use of Folsom Dam, a Federal 
facility protecting the city. However, I am disappointed that the 
Congress did not authorize other features needed to provide the higher 
level of flood protection sought by my Administration. I am committed to 
working with the Congress to reduce further the risk of flood damage 
facing this community.
    In 1998, I proposed an innovative approach to integrate Federal 
flood protection and environmental restoration efforts: the ``Challenge 
21'' program. I am pleased that the Congress has embraced this proposal 
and has included a $200 million authorization for it in this bill. The 
bill also removes impediments to better flood plain management and 
broadens the tools available to communities that seek to reduce their 
risk of flood damage. The bill will promote the use of effective, 
nonstructural means to address flooding concerns and complement efforts 
across the Nation to restore the environmental value of flood plains and 
aquatic ecosystems.
    I support the bill's authorization to develop and implement a 
comprehensive fish and wildlife habitat restoration plan for the 
Missouri River and to increase the amount of land along the river 
corridor authorized for acquisition from willing sellers. These 
authorizations will allow us to recreate a string of natural areas along 
the length of this great American river once traveled by Lewis and 
Clark. The legislation also includes an important authorization to study 
the effects of bank stabilization on the Yellowstone River, the Nation's 
last major freely meandering river.
    On July 1, 1999, my Administration transmitted to the Congress its 
comprehensive long-term plan to restore the Florida Everglades, which is 
one of our national treasures. I am pleased that S. 507 continues the 
authority for related Federal water resources projects in South Florida 
and look forward

[[Page 1646]]

to working with the Congress over the next year to authorize the first 
steps in this important restoration effort.
    I also support several of the bill's provisions that authorize 
improvements to our
Nation's ports and harbors. I urge the Congress to enact my proposed 
Harbor Services Fund legislation, which will ensure a stable source of 
funding to improve our national port infrastructure and meet the demands 
of the global economy.
    I am disappointed, however, in many of the provisions of S. 507. The 
amount of construction spending authorized in S. 507--over $4 billion in 
new Federal spending--far exceeds a reasonable assessment of the 
available future Federal budgetary resources for the Corps of Engineers 
program. With an existing construction backlog of more than $27 billion 
of Army Corps of Engineers water resources projects, it would require 
nearly 20 years at current funding levels just to complete all of the 
ongoing projects that the Congress previously has authorized. This 
legislation will place significant further stress on the funding 
capabilities of this program and create expectations for future funding 
that are not likely to be forthcoming.
    Roughly three-quarters of the significant new projects in this Act 
and many of its project modifications are still in the planning stage or 
undergoing review and, therefore, simply are not ready for authorization 
at this time. Until the completion of the review required for proposed 
Federal water resources projects under Executive Order 12322, neither 
the Executive branch nor the Congress is likely to know which of these 
projects will raise significant concerns regarding their scope, economic 
and technical feasibility, environmental acceptability, or the ability 
of local sponsors to provide the required cost-share.
    This legislation authorizes nearly $900 million for local 
environmental infrastructure and other projects that may be worthwhile, 
but most of which should not become a responsibility of the Army Corps 
of Engineers. In addition, although S. 507 would reduce Federal costs 
for future shore protection projects and is a first step towards 
establishing a more equitable sharing of their substantial long-term 
costs, it does not go far enough.
    My Administration will work with the Congress on the next water 
projects authorization bill for the Army Corps of Engineers to address 
these problems.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
August 17, 1999.

Note: S. 507, approved August 17, was assigned Public Law No. 106-53.