Letter to The Honorable John Kerry, Chairman and The Honorable Richard Lugar, Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Letter
Letter to The Honorable John Kerry, Chairman and The Honorable Richard Lugar, Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
With Hurricane Season Approaching, Sen. Cornyn Calls For Action On His Bill To Reimburse Valley Leaders For Levee Repairs
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, today wrote to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations urging them to quickly bring up for consideration his legislation to allow for reimbursements to local government entities in the Lower Rio Grande Valley for critical repairs to the levee system. With hurricane season just over one month away, Sen. Cornyn pressed Committee leadership to pass his bill as soon as possible so local government leaders can make immediate repairs to the outdated system to protect local families and businesses against flooding. The full text of Sen. Cornyn's letter is as follows:
The Honorable John Kerry The Honorable Richard Lugar
Chairman, Ranking Member,
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations
439 Dirksen Senate Office Building 439 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Chairman Kerry and Ranking Member Lugar:
I am writing to request that the Committee on Foreign Relations bring up for consideration S. 302, which I introduced on January 22, 2009. This legislation was referred to your Committee for review.
The International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) reported 5 years ago that the levees along the Rio Grande River were inadequate to protect Texas communities in a 100-year flood event, and a number of levees would have to be raised to protect against flooding. These levees serve a critical role for the safety of Valley residents, and also play a significant role in our national security.
As a result, communities in the Lower Rio Grande Valley have taken on federal responsibilities to reconstruct the levees. The federal government has a responsibility to reimburse communities for expenses incurred in repairing these federal levees. My legislation would allow county governments in the Lower Rio Grande Valley to make immediate repairs to their outdated levee system and be reimbursed by the federal government at a later date.
While I am pleased the IBWC received funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to undertake some needed repairs, I strongly believe more must be done. Committee consideration and eventual Senate passage of this bill would be a major step toward living up to this federal responsibility. I urge the Committee to act on this important legislation as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
JOHN CORNYN
United States Senate
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