Durbin Asks Bush to Reconsider WRDA Veto Threat; Says Bill is Essential for Illinois Projects

Press Release

U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement in response to President Bush's threatened veto of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA):

"Passage of the Water Resources Development Act is years overdue and a veto by this Administration will mean yet another delay for important projects in Illinois," said Durbin. "The construction of several locks and dams in the state - vital components of our nation's infrastructure - will be put on hold. These projects including the Alpine Dam in Rockford are essential to the prevention of severe flooding that has ruined homes and damaged businesses. The WRDA legislation will be sent to the President with broad bipartisan support from both the House and the Senate, and he should reconsider his threat to veto this bill. If he does not, I fully expect that Congress will override that veto."

The WRDA bill includes Congressional authorization for locks and dam modernization on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers and authorizes specific projects for navigation, ecosystem restoration, and flood and storm damage reduction. A significant provision in the bill increases lock and dam capacity and improves the ecosystem of the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Congress generally authorizes Army Corps projects in WRDA bills every two years, but Congress has not enacted WRDA legislation since 2000.

Flooding last year in the City of Rockford has raised concerns over Keith Creek and Alpine Dam. At least 350 homes and 50 businesses are located in the heavily developed floodplain in Rockford. The lower portion of Keith Creek does not have adequate capacity to contain flood flows and is downstream of Alpine Dam, a flood control dam constructed in 1942 by the City of Rockford. Alpine Dam's spillway is 61 years old and is in poor condition. The dam does not meet current federal design standards, and does not have adequate capacity to safely pass the Probable Maximum Flood. In addition, the dam does not provide adequate floor protection for heavily developed areas downstream.

The legislation also includes language that will authorize the use of federal funds to allow the Army Corps of Engineers to complete the Asian Carp Barrier project. This barrier will prevent the spread of invasive species, including Asian Carp, between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.

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