Water Resources Development Act of 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, first, I want to applaud Chairman Shuster and the members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for bringing the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 to the floor.
WRDA is a crucial piece of legislation which authorizes our Nation's locks, dams, harbors, and many other water resources vital to our Nation's economic competitiveness.

However, today, I rise to speak of an issue that is very close to home. The Army Corps of Engineers' New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam is only 13 miles south of my hometown of Augusta, Georgia, and is essential to the towns of Augusta and North Augusta, South Carolina.

Authorization for the lock and dam has been changed numerous times over the past few decades, and the Senate version of WRDA includes broad language for additional needed changes. I understand the complexities of changing authorizations or even deauthorizing projects on a river as vital as the Savannah River.

Mr. Chairman, I look forward to the opportunity to work with Chairman Shuster and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on language to correct this process, working with the Senate to better serve our community and our country.

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