Floor Statements

Madam Chair, I move to strike the last word.

Madam Chair, I would like to congratulate the Appropriations Committee and the chairman for their fine work on making some difficult choices.

Obviously, our budget times are tight. We have to prioritize our spending, and we have some emergencies here in this country which are abnormal, extremely abnormal from the standpoint that our weather patterns have changed dramatically this past year and as a result we have a lot of our citizens that are really suffering right now.

In my district, I have the Mississippi River along the one side, I have the Missouri River running through the area as well, so both of those have been dramatically impacted by the massive rain storms that have run through the area as well as some of the tornados that have gone through the area as well.

So I want to put a face on some of this for just a moment. You know, we have today a number of farmers who no longer can drive to their homes. They have to take a boat to their homes. They have 5 feet of water. Some of them are looking at the roofs instead of their homes, and their crops are gone. And when they are gone, whenever a flood occurs, it doesn't just occur and wipe out that year's crops. Quite often times it takes 2 or 3 or 4 years. And sometimes the ground is damaged to the point where it can never be reclaimed.

The gentlewoman from the southeast portion of our State, some of her area that was devastated by some of the levees that were blown up, those crop lands may never return to fertile ground because of what happened. Again, well, people say, well, it's just farm land. No, it's not. This is the business of farming. This is their business location.

And if you look at their farms, it's not just land that's laying out there. They have irrigation systems, they have thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars in irrigation systems and the berms and the ground that's been cultivated and excavated in a way that it can utilize all the waters that they irrigate with or whatever.

So they have a huge investment in this property. It's not just land. It's a huge investment in their business. We are interested in continuing to help those folks rebuild those levees, rebuild their lives, rebuild their businesses because this is what they are about.

One of the things that has happened in my area right now is with, basically, a tsunami coming down the Missouri River basin. In Montana they had an unusual amount of snow that fell this year, a late snow melt. And then on top of that they had a whole year's worth of rain in a 2-week period, and we have literally a tsunami coming down the Missouri River basin.

Fortunately, we had a flood control set of dams in there that have minimized it; but even at that, this is a 100- to 500-year flood that is devastating everything in its path. And so those folks, in fact, right now from Kansas City on north, there isn't a single private levee that isn't either breached or topped.

Let me repeat that: There isn't a single private levee north of Kansas City that is not breached or topped. That's how severe and how devastating this situation is this year.

When we start talking about the uses of the river, it's important to note that barge traffic on rivers--the gentleman from Louisiana a moment ago talked about the usage of how much corn and grain goes up and down the Mississippi. The normal barge can carry 900 trailer loads of grain, 900 trailer loads of grain.

Think of all the vehicles we are taking off the roads. Think of the environmental impact of none of those vehicles being on the road. It's very significant.

Yet, in our area, the Missouri River is being underutilized because of some of the new mandates that are being put on it by different bureaucrats here in D.C. with regards to trying to worry about a fish or a bird that lives along the shore and/or for recreational purposes.

So we have some interesting debates going on right now. Those we will decide at a later date, but the problem we are facing today is the devastation that it has had to life and property and the safety of those. We believe that these funds are necessary for people to recover from this devastation that has occurred.

And just as a side light here, we also would like to thank the Appropriations Committee for not only finding a way to do this, prioritizing Federal funds without adding to our debt, but there is an interesting fact here as well. I want to note, it was from a report back in January of 2009 with regard to the Congressional Research Service that said had supplemental appropriations been fully offset-- which this is since 1981--Federal debt held by the public could have been reduced by at least 23 percent, or $1.3 trillion. This could have reduced interest payments to the public by $57 billion a year.

I think while it's difficult, I know that our friends across the aisle and some of the folks here discussing the prioritization this morning are not happy with this. I think these are difficult times. We all have to realize that reprioritizing things sometimes is not easy.

But in this situation I believe that it's justified, and we certainly support what fine work the Appropriations Committee has done.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, the Missouri River basin is currently facing some of the worst flooding in its history. This devastation, combined with the ongoing economic crisis and our aging inland waterways infrastructure, means that now, more than ever, we must be focused and responsible with taxpayer-funded river projects.

My amendment would prohibit funding for the Missouri River Authorized Purposes Study, also known as MRAPS. This $25 million earmarked study comes on the heels of a comprehensive $35 million, 17-year study completed in 2004 that showed that the current authorized purposes are important and should be maintained.

For river communities, few issues are as important as flood control, water supply, power, and navigation. People in these communities rely on the river for their livelihoods and will do so today, tomorrow, and long after the floodwaters have receded.

This Congress and this administration need to focus on protecting human life and property and maintaining the safety and soundness of our levees. We also must support the important commercial advantages provided to us by our inland waterways system.

The Missouri River moves goods to market and is an important tool in both domestic and international trade. That's why the National Corn Growers Association, the American Waterways Operators, the Coalition to Protect the Missouri River, and the Missouri Farm Bureau support this amendment.

This study puts in jeopardy the lower Missouri and the Mississippi rivers, which could result in devastating consequences for navigation and transportation, resulting in barriers for waterways operators, agriculture, and every product that depends on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers to get to market.

The current authorized uses of the Missouri River provide necessary resources and translate to continued economic stability not only for Missourians but also for many Americans living throughout the Missouri and Lower Mississippi River basins.

We've said we want to focus on creating and maintaining jobs. This Congress is on the brink of passing three major trade agreements, and the ability of our inland waterways to transport manufactured and agricultural goods, goods purchased and grown by Americans, is as important as it ever has been.

This study is duplicative and wasteful of taxpayer dollars. On this exact issue we've already spent 17 years and $35 million on hundreds of public meetings and extensive litigation. I offered identical language during our first debate on the fiscal year 2011 continuing resolution. That amendment passed by a vote of 245-176. I appreciate my colleagues who offered their support and hope to have their support again.

While there is no funding in the underlying bill for MRAPS, I will remind my colleagues that in committee an amendment was adopted to allow the Corps of Engineers to use and receive non-Federal funds to continue and complete ongoing Federal studies. The need for my amendment is as urgent as ever.

With that, I yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from Missouri (Mrs. Hartzler).

Mr. Chairman, I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Akin).

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, in recent months the Midwestern United States has been pummeled by severe weather that has destroyed land, homes, and even lives, particularly along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Citizens living in communities along the Missouri River have endured what is beginning to be referred to as the worst flooding in history.

Just in this year alone, millions of taxpayer dollars have gone towards environmental restoration and recovery programs, while operations and maintenance of our infrastructure has been terribly neglected. Because of this neglect, this year's record rainfall, snowfall, and subsequent snowmelt have created extremely dangerous conditions that are growing more serious with each passing day.

President Obama in his fiscal year 2012 budget requested more than $72 million for the Missouri River Recovery Program, which would primarily go towards the funding of environmental restoration studies and projects. This funding dwarfs the insufficient $6.1 million that was requested for an entire operations and maintenance fund that supports the area covering the entire region from Sioux City to the mouth of the Missouri in St. Louis. It is preposterous to think that environmental projects are more important than the protection of human life.

The Missouri River Ecosystem Restoration Plan, or MR-ERP, is slated to receive $4 million of the more than $72 million in Federal funding that will go towards the Missouri River Recovery Program. This program is only one of the many Missouri River ecosystem recovery programs funded by American taxpayers, and MR-ERP is one of no fewer than 70 environmental and ecological studies focused on the Missouri River. The people who have to foot the bill for these studies and projects, many of which take years to complete and are ultimately inconclusive, are the very people who are at risk of losing their farms, their businesses, their homes, and even their lives today.

I do not take for granted the importance of river ecosystems. I grew up near the Missouri River, as did many of the people I represent in Congress. But we have now reached a point in our Nation where we value the welfare of fish more than the welfare of human beings. Our priorities are backwards.

My amendment, supported by the Coalition to Protect the Missouri River and the Missouri Farm Bureau, proposes a prohibition of funding for the MR-ERP program. The end of the study will in no way jeopardize the Corps' ability to meet requirements under the Endangered Species Act. What this amendment will do is eliminate one of the many ecosystem studies along the river, a study that has become little more than a tool of the administration for the promotion of the return of the river to its most natural state, with little regard for navigation, trade, power generation, or the many people who depend on the Missouri River and adjacent lands for their livelihoods. This study has the potential to result in river management that is environmentally driven rather than focused on balancing the needs of the environment with those along the river and our wonderful communities.

We've seen this same scenario played out on a nationwide basis. The result is increased unemployment, reduced trade, economic depression, and sometimes questionable environmental results.

Mr. Chairman, should the funding for MR-ERP go forward, we must stop and think about what we are doing. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, to support our Nation's river communities.

I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Hartzler).

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield myself the balance of my time.

The Acting Chair. The gentleman is recognized for 30 seconds.

Mr. Chairman, very quickly, I think I understood the gentleman to say that this would affect some of the Corps' operations. This will in no way affect the Corps' operations whatsoever. This is a study that does nothing more than dictate how some things should be done after the study is over with. And in Missouri, our experience with these kinds of studies is such that we always come out on the short end.

We have farmers, and businesses, and communities along the river right now who have been dramatically impacted by previous studies which have protected fish and birds over the welfare of our citizens, our communities, and our businesses.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Offered By: Mr. Luetkemeyer

Amendment No. 86: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 9 o'clock and 20 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, July 14, 2011, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.

Offered By: Mr. Luetkemeyer

Amendment No. 77: At the end of the bill, before the short

title, insert the following:

Offered By: Mr. Luetkemeyer

Amendment No. 78: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Illinois for her leadership on this important issue.

I rise today in support of House Resolution 1309 and in support of my en bloc amendment that aims to provide more certainty to the National Flood Insurance Program.

My amendment calls on FEMA to take into account the effects and implications of weather conditions when making a flood-in-progress determination. Currently, FEMA's flood determinations are made independently by a FEMA adjustor, allowing a significant amount of room for subjectivity. I appreciate the need for FEMA's flexibility, but taking a more formulaic approach to flood events will provide increased certainty to our river communities. My amendment would also require FEMA to review the process for

providing public notification of a flood event.

When the Missouri River started flooding earlier this summer, FEMA was delinquent in reporting their flood-in-progress determination to the public. That determination was made June 1 but was not announced until June 6. For 5 days, we had no way of knowing that FEMA had made this determination, impacting policyholders and new homebuyers.

We believe that FEMA must look at the policies in place and make recommendations for a more objective and precise determination process, along with public notification standards that will keep policyholders better informed. It is critical that FEMA develop enhanced procedures for flood determinations and communications with the public.

I urge support for my amendment and for the underlying bill.

Offered By: Mr. Luetkemeyer

Amendment No. 21: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Offered By: Mr. Luetkemeyer

Amendment No. 22: At the end of the bill, before the short

title, insert the following:

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Rock Bridge Bruins Men's Tennis team for winning the Class 2 A Missouri State Championship on May 26.

These young men and their coaches should be commended for all their hard work throughout the regular season and bringing home the 2 A Tennis Championship to their school and community.

I ask that you join me in recognizing the Rock Bridge Bruins for a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating James Hunter and Joe LaRose of the Rock Bridge Bruins Men's Tennis Team for winning the Class 2 A Missouri State Doubles Championship on May 28.

These young men should be commended for all their hard work throughout the regular season and bringing home the 2 A Doubles Tennis Championship to their school and community.

I ask that you join me in recognizing James Hunter and Joe LaRose for a job well done!

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the La Plata High School Bulldogs Men's Baseball Team for winning the Class 1 A Missouri State Championship on June 2.

These young men and their coaches should be commended for all their hard work throughout the regular season and bringing home the 1 A Baseball Championship to their school and community.

I ask that you join me in recognizing the La Plata Bulldogs for a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the New Bloomfield Wildcats Men's Baseball Team for winning the Class 2A Missouri State Championship on June 2.

These young men and their coaches should be commended for all their hard work throughout the regular season and bringing home the 2A Baseball Championship to their school and community.

I ask that you join me in recognizing the New Bloomfield Wildcats for a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize The Zimmer Radio Group for their stunning public service during the devastating tornados in Joplin.

As the tornados began their devastating assault on Joplin, and people began to seek refuge for their lives, employees from the Zimmer Radio Group based in the southwest Missouri city continued their coverage of the powerful storm. After the tornados had subsided, many local citizens were left with destroyed homes, broken memories, or worse, lost loved ones. Many citizens had no way of knowing if their families were safe due to most communication possibilities being destroyed by the tornados.

The staff of Zimmer Radio Group stepped in and immediately began contributing to the efforts of relief. They connected victims over their radio broadcasts by providing an outlet for people to locate their loved ones, and to

provide guidance on where they can seek shelter and food. It is times like these that we all need to rally around our fellow Missourians. The Zimmer Radio Group has led the way by setting a premier example of what disaster relief really means. In the wake of such a tremendous disaster, Zimmer has stepped up to the challenge and continued to help people in need of finding relief.

As fellow citizens we are all called to help one another in times of need. We take for granted the things we have, until we have lost them. Things like food, water, and shelter have become such a routine part of life, that when they are stolen from us, we are at the mercy of our fellow man. I urge all of us to lend a hand and assist those who have been affected by this tragedy.

As a friend, American, and Missourian, my thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Joplin and the state of Missouri who have fallen victim to such powerful forces of nature that have swept across our great state. I encourage those who are able, to assist people who have lost their homes, and I pray that those who have lost loved ones find comfort and relief in the days and weeks to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a locally coordinated, social media-based fundraiser that was held recently in Columbia, MO, for the Joplin tornado relief effort that raised more than $1 million.

This story begins on Sunday, May 22, 2011 with Brent Beshore, a Joplin native turned Columbia entrepreneur, who immediately after the tornado struck Joplin began to call, email, text and Facebook family and friends to ensure they were safe. Wanting more information, but without anywhere to go, Brent created a Facebook page titled ``Joplin, MO Tornado Recovery'' so others would have a place to get and share information. Brent then began pulling information from a Twitter feed set up to track Joplin and tornado keywords, information and requests and sharing it with the group. The Facebook page grew almost instantaneously from 60 likes, to 600, then to 6000 and continued to grow at an almost exponential pace. The group currently has over 170,000 likes.

Brent reached out to Tim Rich, executive director of the Heart of Missouri United Way and a former staff member for my predecessor, Congressman Kenny Hulshof, to set up a fund for relief efforts. Tim without hesitation set up a special fund that would go one hundred percent of its proceeds to Joplin tornado relief. Within hours of the tornado, Brent and Tim had established the world's first dedicated tornado relief fund for Joplin. They quickly established an ambitious fundraising goal of $500,000. KOMU-TV, the NBC-affiliated television station for Mid-Missouri also played a key role in getting the word out about the fundraising efforts and even held a telethon to assist Joplin.

Through these efforts donations came in from small towns in Missouri to as far away as Saudi Arabia, Sweden and South Africa. A simple idea had quickly turned into a global operation.

Brent was in contact with politicians, musicians, disaster relief experts, and Fortune 500 charitable foundations. Social media was constantly updated and organized.

The results were nothing short of astonishing. By Thursday May 26, their fundraising efforts surpassed their greatest expectations, taking in over $1 million. The team had executed a flawless event including an on-air prime time telethon and had collected donations from around the world. The Facebook page was referenced as a go-to resource by most national media outlets. The relief efforts were even re-tweeted by Oprah Winfrey.

The idea of one man, executed with the help of his friends and his community, has benefited so many. I ask my colleagues in joining me and thanking all the volunteers who made this effort a resounding success. I also ask my colleagues to continue to keep all of the people impacted by this disaster in their thoughts and prayers.