Water Resources Development Act of 2018

Floor Speech

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Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment to H.R. 8, the Water Resources Development Act of 2018.

Madam Chair, my amendment is a commonsense and cost savings amendment that would allow the Army Corps of Engineers much-needed flexibility when acquiring certain rights to the procurement of land.

Specifically, it would direct the Secretary to prefer acquiring the minimum interest necessary in real property needed to support a project or an action. This allows flexibilities for the Corps to consider the use of a temporary easement estate or other interest to facilitate a reduction in overall project cost, to reduce project time, and minimize conflict with property owners related to the project or action.

This approach will allow the Corps to take a more sensible approach to projects and not force the Federal Government to purchase more property in order to undertake critically needed projects.

Historically, in my home State of Louisiana, many of the projects are accomplished through partnerships between the Federal Government and State and private landowners who often can offer more favorable and economical terms than the Federal Government's outright purchasing of property.

As we have heard throughout debate on the underlying bill, there are countless and widely known deficiencies in the way business is conducted by the Corps. Many of these issues are caused by bureaucratic regulations that get in the way of real progress being made in a manner that is responsible to the taxpayers we represent.

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Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Chairwoman, I thank my colleague from Louisiana for supporting the bill, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense amendment, as well as final passage of the chairman's bill.

Madam Chairwoman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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