Dam Safety Act of 2006

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4981, the Dam Safety Act of 2006, as amended, which reauthorizes and amends the National Dam Safety Program. The National Dam Safety Program is a partnership of the States, Federal agencies, and other stakeholders to encourage individual and community responsibility for dam safety.

The purpose of the National Dam Safety Program is to ``reduce the risks to life and property from dam failure in the United States through the establishment and maintenance of an effective national dam safety program to bring together the expertise and resources of the federal and non-federal communities in achieving national dam safety hazard reduction.''

H.R. 4981 reauthorizes the National Dam Safety Program through fiscal year 2011. The dam safety program, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency--FEMA--provides grants to State regulatory agencies, funds research projects aimed at improving dam safety, and trains safety officials and dam operators.

Of the 79,777 public and private dams in the United States, there are currently 11,811 high hazard dams across the country. If one of these dams fails, it could cost lives and damage the economy and the environment. From 2000 to 2006, the number of high hazard dams increased by almost 20 percent.

These dams can pose a significant threat. Between 1999 and 2004, States reported 1,090 dam safety incidents, including 125 failures. Deficient or unsafe dams mean that these dams have been identified as having hydrologic or structural deficiencies that make

them susceptible to a failure triggered by a large storm event, an earthquake, progressive deterioration, or inadequate maintenance. Currently, States have identified approximately 3,400 dams as being deficient or unsafe--an increase of 33 percent since 1998.

Since the creation of the National Dam Safety Program in 1996, dam safety inspections have increased significantly. In addition, the program has provided funding to increase the amount and the quality of dam safety research and has increased the amount of direct assistance for training State officials and providing technical seminars and workshops.

Presently, many States lack the financial resources to effectively carry out the program and many State regulatory programs lack the support they require at a time when these critical program funds are truly needed. Clearly, there is a need for this program, the funds it provides, and the technical support it offers States.

Mr. Speaker, I support the bill and urge its approval.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4981) to amend the National Dam Safety Program Act, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 4981, as amended, reauthorizes the National Dam Safety Program for 5 years through fiscal year 2011. It makes minor improvements to the national inventory of dams. The existing program authorization expires in just 3 days at the end of September.

The National Dam Safety Program is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, commonly known as FEMA, and was established to improve safety and security around dams. The program provides assistance grants to State dam safety agencies to assist them in improving their regulatory programs, training and research, and to create a national inventory of dams.

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams, there are nearly 2,000 dams in New York State, of which 133 are in my congressional district alone. Some of these high-hazard dams include the Almond Dam in Steuben County; the Canadice Lake Dam in Ontario County; the Cuba Lake Dam in Allegany County; and the Keuka Lake Outlet Dam in Yates County.

Of those 133 dams, 30 of them are considered to be high hazard and 41 are significant hazard. That means if there is a failure, and I underline, there is a high risk of death and destruction, high risk of death and destruction, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Reauthorization of this program is necessary to continue the program and benefit the research, development of information technology, and the training of State dam safety officials who are considered the Nation's first line of defense from dam failures.

I support this bill and encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no other requests for time. I would just like to thank my colleague from the other side of the aisle, Ms. Brown, for her support of this bill and certainly to my colleagues Mr. Matheson and Mr. Abercrombie for their cosponsorship of this bill; and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4981, the Dam Safety Act of 2006, which reauthorizes and amends the National Dam Safety program. The program's goal is to reduce the risks to life and property by establishing an effective national dam safety maintenance program that utilizes the resources and expertise of the Federal and non-Federal communities to achieve the reduction of dam safety hazards. In other words, one of the primary purposes of the National Dam Safety program is to provide financial assistance to the States for strengthening their dam safety program.

Since the passage of the National Dam Safety Program Act in 1996, the program has improved the Nation's dam safety. Dam safety inspections have increased; State training programs have been enhanced; and research in the area of improving dam safety has increased.

Additionally, in light of our Nation's need to protect our infrastructure from possible terrorist attacks, the National Dam Safety Review Board has established the Dam Safety Security Task Force to facilitate dialogue and offer technical assistance and support on security-related policy and guidance, and there has been an increase in the development of dam safety and security emergency action plans.

H.R. 4981, the Dam Safety Act of 2006, seeks to build upon these achievements made over the past several years and enhance them. The bill strengthens the act by improving the national dam inventory, and encourages States to improve State dam safety programs and increase reauthorization levels of the various components of the act.

Mr. Speaker, many people are not aware that there are approximately 80,000 dams in the United States. Of these, approximately 10,000 dams are considered to have high hazard potential, meaning their failure could result in loss of life or severe property damage. It is critical that we help to ensure the safety and security of these dams.

H.R. 4981, the Dam Safety Act of 2006, is a good bill, has bipartisan support, and I urge its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 4981, as amended; H.R. 6051, as amended, H.R. 1556; H.R. 5546, as amended; H.R. 5606; H.R. 5026; and