Water Resources Development Act of 2018

Floor Speech

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Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in favor of my amendment which protects the Mississippi River and Tributaries System and its floodways. The MR&T is our Nation's most successful flood control and navigation system expanding from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, down through Louisiana near the Gulf of Mexico.

Since 1928, the MR&T has prevented $1 trillion in flood damage and protected the lives of millions who live in the Mississippi Valley.

The MR&T's floodways and backwaters throughout the system relieve pressure on the Mississippi levees during flooding and are essential to keeping the system functioning. One of those floodways is in southeast Missouri, the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway.

In 2011, the Mississippi River experienced historic flooding, leading to the Army Corps' decision to intentionally breach, with explosives, the Birds Point Floodway. As a result, 130,000 acres of land were flooded, destroying people's homes, towns, and crops.

The people of southeast Missouri are resilient and, in the aftermath of this tragic action, tried to pick up the pieces and return to their lives. Unfortunately, it was not until over a year and a half later that the Army Corps returned the destroyed levees back to their original design. There were even some who indicated that perhaps these levees not be built back at all. That is truly unacceptable.

Floodway activation impacts not just residents in the floodways, but all of 4\1/2\ million people protected by the MR&T system. Floodways are a critical part of the MR&T, and their restoration after activation should never be in question.

My amendment ensures that, in the event of activation of any floodway or backwater feature within the MR&T, the Army Corps will prioritize expedient restoration of the damaged floodway's levees back to the original protection.

Activation of any floodway on the MR&T has serious consequences and should only be done as a last resort. This amendment simply ensures activated floodway is restored. My amendment is essential to the peace of mind of all people living near floodways and to the proper function of the MR&T.

I ask my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Chairman, I would absolutely say that the gentleman from Louisiana is correct. It is for floodways and for restoration that have been activated.

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Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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