The U.S. Senate will vote this afternoon, July 18th on legislation giving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hundreds of new water projects to build. This is the same agency whose poor planning caused the catastrophic levee failures in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. Over the past decade, dozens of reports have documented systematic problems with Corps projects.
It is time to reform the Corps — you can help by calling your Senators and urging them to vote YES on two key amendments that will change the way the Corps does business. The safety of millions of Americans and the future of our rivers are at stake. Call Today!
Tell Congress to protect rivers and communities!
The U.S. Senate is expected to vote later this afternoon on the Water Resources Development Act (S.728), which will give the Corps hundreds of new projects to study and build. It is critical that this bill also change the way the Corps does business, to prevent future flooding catastrophes like the one suffered by New Orleans – and iresponsible new projects that could impact rivers.
Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and John McCain (R-AZ), along with Senators Tom Carper (D-DE), Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), and Jim Jeffords (I-VT), will offer two amendments that will help turn the agency around. The Independent Peer Review amendment will require outside expert review of Corps project planning ensuring that Corps projects are based on the best possible engineering, science, and economics. The Prioritization Amendment will ensure that Congress has the information it needs to fund projects that address national priorities and provide real protection to communities.
Only the Feingold-McCain-Carper-Lieberman-Jeffords amendments will address the longstanding problems at the Corps. Similarly named amendments by Senators Bond (R-MO) and Inhofe (R-OK) offer “phony reform” and will do nothing to fix the problems at the Corps.
Here’s what you can do:
1. Contact your Senators TODAY by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Once you get through, ask to speak directly with the staffer who handles water resources for the senator.
2. Tell the staffer you are urging the Senator to support the Feingold-McCain-Carper-Lieberman-Jeffords amendments to S. 728, the Water Resources Development Act, and to oppose the Inhofe-Bond amendments. Let them know that the safety of millions of Americans and the future of our rivers are at stake!
3. Ask for your Senator to respond to you in writing explaining how he or she voted and why. Be sure to give your mailing address.
4. Forward this message to others.
If you are unable to call today, please email your Senators today!
MESSAGE TO DECISION MAKER:
Dear Senator:
The Corps’ recent admission that flawed engineering led to the catastrophic failure of floodwalls and levees in New Orleans confirms the criticisms and calls for reform made by more than a decade of government and independent studies.
When S. 728, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), comes to the floor on Tuesday, I urge you to support the Feingold-McCain-Carper-Lieberman-Jeffords Independent Peer Review amendment and the McCain-Feingold-Lieberman Prioritization amendment. The Independent Peer Review amendment will require outside expert review of Corps project planning ensuring that Corps projects are based on the best possible engineering, science, and economics. The Prioritization Amendment will ensure that Congress has the information it needs to fund projects that address national priorities and provide real protection to communities.
In addition, I urge you to oppose amendments by Senators Inhofe and Bond that offer blanket exemptions to Corps projects and give free passes to others that put people in harm’s way.
Please do all you can now to ensure that no other community has to suffer the fate of New Orleans because of the Corps’ failings. Vote yes on Feingold-McCain sponsored amendments when S. 728 comes to the floor. I look forward to your written reply.