Letter to House Committee on Appropriations RE - Funding For L.A. River Restoration

Letter

Dear Chairman Simpson and Ranking Member Kaptur:

As you prepare your Fiscal Year 2016 Appropriations bill, we strongly urge you to provide at least $122 million for the Army Corps of Engineers' Investigations account to support ongoing Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration project studies and preconstruction engineering and design activities. Our request is consistent with the Fiscal Year 2015 enacted level funding. This year, President Obama's Fiscal Year 2016 budget only requests $97 million for this overall account, and we have concerns that it does not reflect nor address the scope of funding necessary to complete pending studies for these kinds of projects. In the past, the Committee has echoed similar concerns and increased funding for this account accordingly.

Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration is one of the most important aspects of the Corps' mission. Many of our nation's once pristine waterways are damaged and distressed, not only affecting our ecological health, but also those who live in the surrounding areas. By working to restore these neglected ecosystems to their original condition, we can protect our natural resources, promote environmental sustainability, and spur local economic and job growth around these spaces.

From our nation's heartland all the way to Los Angeles, our lands and waters are truly breathtaking. All Americans should have the opportunity to enjoy and take pride in the stewardship of the environment. A commitment to providing additional funds for ongoing studies reflects the importance of bringing good ecosystem restoration projects from concept to reality. These studies help inform decisions regarding feasibility, local impact, and construction design preparation. While we understand that difficult budget decisions must be made, it's imperative that these studies be completed to lay the groundwork for future projects.

As such, we respectfully urge you to provide at least $122 million in funding for the Army Corps of Engineers' Fiscal Year 2016 Investigations account including additional support for ongoing Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration project studies and preconstruction engineering and design activities. Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Rep. Xavier Becerra

Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard

Rep. Adam Schiff

Rep. Karen Bass

Rep. Julia Brownley

Rep. Tony Cárdenas

Rep. Judy Chu

Rep. Janice Hahn

Rep. Ted Lieu

Rep. Alan Lowenthal

Rep. Linda Sánchez

Rep. Loretta Sanchez

Rep. Brad Sherman

Rep. Maxine Waters

Source