NATIONAL WATERWAYS ALLIANCE

Suite 200 | 1130 17th Street, Northwest | Washington, DC 20036-4676 |
(202) 296-4415 | Fax (202) 835-3861

August 25, 2004

The Honorable
Address
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator [ ]:

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee recently reported out S. 2773, the Water Resources Development Act of 2004. It is particularly important that this bill go to the Senate floor. We are two years behind in the normal biennial cycle of passage and this WRDA contains authorizations for many projects vital to this nation's economic and environmental health. In addition, both S. 2773 and the House of Representatives' passed version, H.R. 2557, have a number of provisions that address such issues as independent review of feasibility reports and a revision of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' planning process (i.e. Corps reform). Finally addressing the "Corps reform" issue will lead to stability for the Corps of Engineers and reassure the nation that the Corps is a world-class engineering organization for the future.

Our water resources system contributes mightily to our nation's well-being. Our ports and waterways are the backbone of our transportation system-ensuring domestic and international trade opportunities and low-cost, environmentally sensitive cargo movements. Our flood damage reduction program saves lives and prevents $6 in damages for each dollar spent. Corps hydropower facilities provide electricity to 24% of citizens. Shoreline protection projects protect our coastal areas from hurricanes and other storm events as well as provide recreational benefits. Projects for water supply, irrigation, recreation and wildlife habitat provide innumerable benefits.

We need your help however. All Corps projects will be affected by S. 2773. We firmly believe "Corps reform" provisions should enhance and promote technically sound, economically and environmentally justified project recommendations as well as streamline the planning process and provide clear-cut policies for mitigation. Some of the policy provisions, as written, may inadvertently delay or impede the formulation and implementation of needed improvements as well as alter the balanced way in which the nation's water resources program is managed, developed and maintained. As a Senator who understands the richness our water resources program brings to the daily lives of your constituents, we hope you will join with your colleagues in promoting the needed adjustments which will allow WRDA to be resoundingly passed by the Senate and undergo a quick Conference resolution.

Discussions are already underway on improvements to the bill and we encourage you to work with Sens. Inhofe, Bond, Jeffords and Reid to ensure that those changes fully address our areas of concern. In addition, it is crucial that Sens. Frist and Daschle understand that S. 2773 is a legislative priority that should be slated for floor action before the end of the session. Now is the time for a Water Resources Development Act of 2004 that is supportive of the mutual goals of moving our nation forward and providing an economically and environmentally sustainable roadmap for our children.

Sincerely,