Providing for Consideration of H.R. 2864, Water Resources Development Act of 2005
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2864, WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2005 -- (House of Representatives - July 13, 2005)
Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 346 and ask for its immediate consideration.
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Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui); pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.
Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 346 is a structured rule that allows for debate on H.R. 2864, the Water Resources Development Act of 2005. The rule makes in order seven amendments to the bill, five offered by Democrats, one offered by a Republican, and one bipartisan amendment.
The underlying bill is a solidly bipartisan piece of legislation introduced by the chairman and ranking member of the full Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment.
I want to begin by thanking the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young); the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar); chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan); and the ranking member, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), for working together to produce an outstanding piece of legislation.
The Water Resources Development Act renews the commitment of this Congress to dealing with our Nation's water infrastructure. From clean drinking water and wastewater treatment to transportation on our rivers, it is crucial to invest in our water infrastructure.
H.R. 2864 authorizes or modifies 102 projects and studies related to navigation, improving our country's ability to ship goods and improve our economy.
The bill includes 225 flood disaster reduction projects and studies. West Virginia, my home State, has been hit by several devastating floods in the past few years. I appreciate that this bill includes authorization for a watershed drainage assessment of the lower Kanawha River Basin in Kanawha, Putnam, Mason, Jackson, and Roane counties in my district.
H.R. 2864 also reauthorizes important corps projects across the country to bring water and sewer lines to rural communities. These water and sewer projects bring jobs and economic development to areas that need business investment. This legislation is a jobs bill because it provides for the infrastructure needs of our communities and allows for better movement of goods across our waterways.
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure reported the Water Resources Development Act in a bipartisan manner, and I trust that the full House will adopt the bill today in the same manner. I ask my colleagues to join me in support of the rule and the underlying bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I urge all of my colleagues to support this fair rule and the bipartisan underlying legislation which provides critical funding to improve our Nation's water infrastructure. From clean drinking water and wastewater treatment to transportation on our rivers, it is crucial to invest in our water infrastructure.
This is a jobs bill that will spur economic growth and development in communities across our Nation. I believe all Members should be able to support this rule and the underlying legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.
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