Environmental Extermism

ENVIRONMENTAL EXTREMISM -- (House of Representatives - September 21, 2005)

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Sodrel). Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, the whole Nation has been saddened by the terrible and tragic events of Hurricane Katrina. Because of our great concern about this, I would like to read a portion of a story the Los Angeles Times ran just 12 days ago on September 9.

The Los Angeles Times said: ``In the wake of Hurricane Betsy 40 years ago, Congress approved a massive hurricane barrier to protect New Orleans from storm surges that could inundate the city.

``But the project, signed into law by President Johnson, was derailed in 1977 by an environmental lawsuit. Now the question is: Could that barrier have protected New Orleans from the damage wrought by Hurricane Katrina?

``If we had built the barriers, New Orleans would not be flooded,' said Joseph Towers, the retired chief counsel for the Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans district.

``Tower's view is endorsed by a former key Senator, along with academic experts, who say a hurricane barrier is the only way to control the powerful storm surges that enter Lake Pontchartrain and threaten the city.''

Still quoting the Los Angeles story: ``The project was stopped in its tracks when an environmental lawsuit won a Federal injunction on the grounds that the Army's environmental impact statement was flawed. By the mid-1980s, the Corps of Engineers abandoned the project.''

The story goes on, but I will just say this: that project, which was stopped by environmental lawsuits, really led or allowed the damage, the horrible events that happened in New Orleans and the surrounding areas. Environmental extremism, Mr. Speaker, has caused almost every highway, aviation, and water project in this country to take three or four times longer than it should and cost about three or four times more than it should. This hurts the poor and the lower income and the working people of this country most of all.

Perhaps wealthy environmentalists do not realize how much they hurt people by driving up costs and destroying jobs; but hurt they do. Some projects they are able to stop altogether. This barrier protection for New Orleans is just one of many examples, but certainly the worst.

However, some people say the city was at fault in its response to this tragedy. Some say it was the State. Some say it was the Federal response that was too slow. Actually, there were mistakes made at all levels, but most people at all levels responded more quickly and with more money than any other country in the world would have been able to do when faced with a similar natural disaster.

We should be proud of how the American people have responded. I doubt there is a fire or police or sheriff's department of any size in this country that has not sent people to the affected area. Private contributions and volunteer help worth billions has been provided. Congress has voted to send $62 billion there. Fortunately, the death toll, while still terrible, was not even close to the predicted 10,000, probably with apparently a few hundred.

What should we do now? The best way we can help is for the other body, the Senate, to follow the leadership of this House and pass the Water Resources Development Act. This bill was passed several weeks before our August recess by a vote of 406 to 14 here in the House. We passed it in the House by a similar margin in 2003, but it bogged down in the Senate.

This bill provides roughly $2 billion for hurricane and flood protection and environmental restoration for the Louisiana coastal region and the gulf coast. No bill before the Congress will do more to protect those areas in the future than this worthy bill. The Senate should not let this bill be bogged down again. It should follow the lead of the House and pass this very important bill just as soon as possible.

No bill does more to provide protection against these tragedies, not only in Louisiana and Mississippi but in other at-risk areas, than does the Water Resources Development Act.

I hope everyone will work together to pass this very important legislation just as soon as possible.

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