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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAPPROPRIATIONS BILL 3/22/95 STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN OWEN B. PICKETR HEARING ON FY 1996 APPROPRIATIONS BILL MARCH 22, 1995 Mr. Chairman, I thank you for allowing me this opportunity to discuss the vital role that the Army Corps of Engineers plays in its participation with cities and localities across the United States with regard to shoreline protection, hurricane protection, and beach erosion projects. In my district, the Second Congressional District of Virginia, the Cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach have worked cooperatively with the Corps to develop and improve public beaches, provide hurricane protection, combat beach erosion, and improve our valuable waterway transportation system. All these activities are vital to the economy and productivity of these cities. There are numerous cities and local governments around the country that are equally dependent upon cooperative projects with the Corps. To emphasize the importance of this partnerstiii) with the Corps, the Honorable Linwood 0. Branch, a Member of the Virginia Beach City Council, is here today on behalf of the City of Virginia Beach to talk with you about joint projects with the Corp@ The Administration's fiscal year 1996 budget request that reflects the goal of reinventing" government in order to forge a clear and practical path to a leaner government, does not except the Army Corps of Engineers The elimination of "local projects" in favor of projects with "national significance" is a drastic change in the wrong direction. Much of the broad base of support for the Corps comes from the many succ@sftil joint projects with state ind local governments. The new criteria for federal participation in projects insures that there will be very few. A benefit- to-cost ratio of two or greater and the requirement that the non-Federal sponsor pay seventy- five percent of the first cost of the project will prove prohibitive. Projects in the Preconstruction Engineerinu and Design (PED) phase Will upon completion of this phase be evaluated by the new criteri@i Most non-Federal sponsor@ @ill find their projects terminated. Virginia Beach and other cities have, in good faitli, devoted time and resources to the planning and implementation of shoreline and flood protection projects which are vital to their future. These projects were (le%,eloped in coiljtiiictit@Ti @,vith the Army Corps of Engineers. Specifically, the City of Virginia Beach and the Corps of Engineers have been, and still are, participating in four key projects. First is the Virginia Beach Erosion Control and Hurricane Protection Project that would provide beach cr@)siorl control and hurricane protection to the 6-mile lon- recreational beachfront. This area is particularly vulnerable to coastal storms when greater than normal tide levels de@eloi) As Lnvone familiar with the area knows, these conditions irc commonplace xiieji the ii1ilLial northeastern storms strike the coastline each fall. A second project, the Periodic Beach Nourishment Project, provides for the necessary annual nourishment to maintain tire bei@@l irea as a recreational attraction for the many visitin- touristy The City's Rudee Inlet Project is a navigation project which provides access for commercial, recreational, and military vessels from the iii2ii-ina facilities in Rudee Inlet to the Atlantic Ocean. The fourth project, the Sandbridge Beich Hurricane and Storm Damage Protection Project, is designed I-or the protection of ,ipproxiiTiatelv five miles of Atlantic Ocean shoreline immediately @otitli of the Dam Neck Fleci ('ombat Trainina Center military facility. The Sandbrid-,e ii7@i is particularly vuliie@@it)lc @o @torni (laiiia-,e when water overtops the area not normally affected by tide levels. The projects I've mentioned are in various stages ranging from PED to actual Operation and Maintenance. All but the Virginia Beach Erosion Control and Hurricane Protection Project are funded in the President's FY 96 budget request. Yet NONE of these projects meet the new criteria proposed for the Corps which calls for projects of "national significance". I would ar-ue, as I am sure the citizens of Virginia Beach would, that these projects ARE of national significance because of their impact on interstate tourism and military programs. To give you a frame of reference, let me tell you that the Norfolk-Virginia Beach- Newport News Metropolitan Statistical Area is the 28th largest metropolitan market in the United States. In 1990, an -estimated @-.5 million people visited the Virginia Beach resort area and spent over $500 million during their stay. Tourism is an important commercial activity for the City's economy. Without annual beach nourishment and shoreline protection projects, Virginia Beach faces a potentially serious economic loss. What is perhaps even more noteworthy in our discussion today is the fact that the Norfolk-Virginia Beach metropolitan area has the largest concentration of military capability in the world. Quality of life is an important component of military readiness. Military members and their families enjoy the recreational opportunities and require costal protection for their dwelling places, Realizing the necessity to improve and streamline the Army Corps of Engineers as well as other Federal government activities, we should not abandon the Corps' unique and traditional management role in the handling of water projects. A responsible approach dictates that cities and localities that have in good faith contributed to the cost of these water resources projects not be left with both empty pockets and unfinished water projects. Spending cuts and government reform at the federal level are necessary. The livelihood and wellbeing of our States, cities, and citizens are essential. With its long history of success and accomplishment in the arei of flood control and shoreline protection, it would be foolish and short-sighted to deny states and localities the help and support of the Corps for deserving and economically attractive projects. It is more important than ever that we approach these kinds of projects with the informed. ven-handed, and proven resources that only the U.S Arniv Corps of Engineers is I-xperienced enough to provide Thank you.