OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Water Resources Development Act of 2007--Veto Message from the President of the United States

Date: Nov. 6, 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Executive Branch Infrastructure Environment Natural Resources


WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2007--VETO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES -- (House of Representatives - November 06, 2007)

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Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 and to encourage all of my colleagues to vote to override the President's veto for this long overdue legislation.

We have not had a WRDA bill in over 7 years. If Hurricane Katrina taught us anything, it is that investing in our infrastructure is a crucial component of preparing for emergencies. Seven years is perilously close to an entire generation without a national overarching water policy.

In my hometown of Sacramento, we are all too aware of the importance of investing in water projects. We live at the confluence of two great rivers: the American and Sacramento.

Sacramento is the most at-risk river city in the Nation, and we know that we must be vigilant in our efforts to increase our flood protection. This bill marks a significant step in our efforts to increasing the security of our Nation for generations to come. To be clear, Mr. Speaker, we need this bill in Sacramento and the Nation needs this bill.

After years of inaction, the bipartisan WRDA bill we have passed comes not a moment too soon. There should be a WRDA bill coming out of Congress and signed by the President every 2 years. Unfortunately, the President has turned his back on assuring the safety and security of the American people. This strong, bipartisan legislation will take significant steps to improve our flood protection and invest in the future health of our communities.

In Sacramento we know exactly how important this bill is to our safety, and I look forward to voting to override the President's veto today.

I want to commend Chairman JIM OBERSTAR, Ranking Member Mica, Subcommittee Chairwoman Johnson, and Ranking Member Baker for their strong bipartisan leadership in making WRDA 2007 a reality.

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