Senators Call on Army Corps for Commitment

April 5, 2000

Nineteen senators have called on the Corps of Engineers and the Army to get behind adequate funding for the Corps' projects to improve river-related facilities. Now "is not the time to retreat from this critical mission," they said in a letter to Army Secretary Louis Caldera.

The Pentagon is conducting an internal review of the management of the Corps to ensure appropriate leadership and oversight, the senators noted in their letter. "Questions were raised in reports regarding an internal push for additional resources. While we encourage steps be taken to improve management in any case, we agree strongly with the fundamental premise that a greater public investment in the programs administered by the Corps would increase its value to this nation," they said.

Flood control, river transportation, port infrastructure, recreation, hydropower and environmental programs "all merit additional funds," said the senators. Half of all lock chambers on rivers exceed the 50-year design under which they were built, and the Clinton Administration's fiscal 1999 budget was expected $375 million in increased costs to the federal government from construction delays. "Valuable environmental programs are not being funded fully, and deferred maintenance will add additional financial stress," they said.

There may be some criticism of the program costs, "but not (from) those of us who understand their value. The Corps needs advocates within their ranks to maximize public benefits. The question is not whether to fund increases but how to fund increases, and we urge the Corps, the Army and this administration to make it a priority to assist Congress in our efforts to do so."