Congress has unique opportunity to address the issue and we are encouraged by the senates stated commitment to complete this year and we look forward to working with you in identifying ways in which we can address challenges in section 404 permitting program for Public Safety infrastructure. We would also like to address funding needs because without word and army corps our counties would not have been able to accomplish the multitude of projects that we have been able to carry out in several decades. Finally, we encourage congress to provide framework of meaningful consultation between the army corps of engineers on pending rules and policies that directly impact us. We believe that this will solve many conflict that is now exist between army corps and governmental programs and today we can work to make partnerships stronger. Thank you for the opportunity to testify and id be happy to answer any questions. Thank you very much, we appreciate your being here today. I would like to turn to mr. William friedman. Thanks so much for joining us today. Thank you, good morning, charm barrasso and members of the commit. I want to thank you for the opportunity to provide remarks on americas Water Infrastructure needs and challenges. Im william friedman, Cleveland Port authority which we short port of cleveland because the full name is a mouthful. Port of cleveland anchors Major Economic contributor the state and local economy. Drives 3. 5 billion in annual Economic Activity in our community and supports 20,000 jobs in our community as well. Im also speaking on behalf of the American Association of port authorities, apa, the chairman elect of legislative policy committee that sets policy for members. My remarks today will provide examples of Water Infrastructure needs faced by public ports and recommendations for legislation to improve core of engineers navigation. Apa members find existential for future. Partners are commit today this challenge can plans to invest upwards of 15 billiondollar between 2016 and 2020 in portrelated facilities. Its imperative that related infrastructure be part of any broad Infrastructure Investment legislation the committee develops. Apa has identified 66 billion in potential water slide and landslide investments that would help ensure benefits from anticipated 155 billion in portrelated capital Infrastructure Investments. The water slide consists amount of full use of trust Fund Revenues over the tenyear period and Harbor Maintenance to restore navigation channels and 6. 2 billion for federal share of cost share improvements authorized in 2014 and 2016 and projects that are currently being studied that will get authorized in the coming years. Apa believes a significant federal investment would grow u. S. Economy and supporting jobs, enhances America Competitiveness and generate additional tax revenues. I provided to info graphics which senator car per had pointed out in the outset of the hearing, those are both available to you. They look like this. The first provides details of 66 billion needs and the second info graphic highlights port related projects that can benefit from infrastructure legislation. Turning to werta its important that it be passed on twoyear cycle asset enableses both small policy changes and navigation projects to be authorized. I look forward to the next word of legislation to continue making these improvements in the legislation and with point out apas threekey Priority Issues for the next as follows, first, 2014 was landmark legislation establishing a path to full use of the Harbor Maintenance tax revenues for its intended purpose which is navigation channel maintenance. 2016 adjusted the annual funding approach so that progress is made for use each year. We are grateful for funding targets, we are grateful they are currently being met by congress through the appropriations process, however, we maintain that the ultimate solution is for full revenues to be provided directly to the core of engineers. My fellow apa members are working on approach that approaches revenue use that includes industry supported spending formula. Number two, authorize and proceed to construct navigation project improvements recommended in chief of engineers report, this includes authorization report for the major rehabilitation on the great lakes and number three, past word include streamlining of core of engineers, study process for channeling improvements and that has worked well. We think additional streamline improvements can be made in upcoming, apa will submit a list of specific improvements to the committee soon. I commend the Committee Leadership for identifying and i urge you to develop and pass Infrastructure Investment as earliest possible time. I would be happy to address any questions you might have for me. Thank you very much of your testimony, mr. Friedman, we look forward to your questions real quick, i would like to turn to Nicole Carter, Congressional Research services. Thanks for joining us. Chairman barrasso, Ranking Member car per, my name is nicole, thank you for invitingtous testify. Committee requests that we focus on legislative process for Water ResourcesDevelopment Act and related issues in 2018. Ly i will start with executive reports and end with broader context for Water Research and infrastructure deliberations in 2018. Congress is often involved at the project level when it comes to u. S. Army corps of engineers, Congress Authorizes the court to perform specific projects to improve navigation, reduce flood damage and restore ecosystems, new core studies and projects in statute, omnibus bill, prior to providing federal funding. Most authorities or previous dont require reauthorization, a small number of time limited authorities and authorizations of operations end in 2018 and 2019. Authorization, however, does not guaranty federal appreciations for the project. Although congress does not appropriate funds, word of provisions may affect the use of appropriations, for example, have provided targets for Navigation Trust funds and have established the nonfederal, federal flit of project costs. The timing of a werta has varied, marked end of long stalemate between congress and executive branch regarding cost sharing and user fees, since werta, congress aim today avoid long delays between planning and execution of projects. By enactment of werta in 1986 until the early 200s since then enactment has been regular. Eleventh, 112th congress how to develop a bill without activities, commonly referred to earmarks. In response 113th congress developed new reporting processes that will i discuss later. The 113th congress enacted the Water Resources reform and Development Act of 2014. It expanded nonfederal opportunities to lead core studies and projects and authorize 34 new construction projects. The 114th congress enacted the next werta in december 2016, it authorized 30 new Core Construction projects as well as dozens of studies, werta2016 was a water authorization bill that covers infrastructure issues including activities and epa. All 64 new Core Construction projects authorized in werta2014 and 2016 had completed report by the asians chief of engineers. Since werta2016 five chiefs report that is recommend authorization of new projects have been completed, two projects of texas, two in florida and one in new york. An additional 12 to 18 chief reports may be completed by the end of 2018. Congress also uses werta to authorize significant changes in previously authorized projects. The court completes in appropriations for the savannah harbor expansion project. Werta2014 created new process and requirement for the secretary of the army to annually collect and report on publiclysubmitted proposals for studies and projects. The most recent report delivered in march 2017, it colludes public proposal for feasibility studies and modifications to existing projects. The next deadline to congress is february 2018. Many topics may shape deliberations on water resource infrastructure in 2018 such as the use of two Navigation Trust funds and the safety and operation of core dams and levies. Infrastructure initiate i initiative, how it may relate core projects and reinvestment in federally aging infrastructure. Nonfederal expectations an partnerships, what will the federal government expect of nonfederal project responsors in coming years and what can nonfederal entities expect from the federal government in terms of partnering and financing of projects . Three, floods. Recent disasters including 2017 hurricanes are raised numerous questions like how effective and efficient are current processes for identifying priority, federal investments to nations flood, thank you, this concludes my statement. Thank you very much, ms. Carter, we appreciate your testimony, there may be questions in a little bit. I would like to welcome steve cochran, restore mississippi delta coalition, thank you so much for joining us today. [inaudible] i want to thank senator cassidy for coming here this morning. I dont know if you noticed it but he has a bad cold and so i particularly appreciate him being willing to come out here today, i want to thank senator kennedy from our state as well, both of them do diligent work on behalf of our states vulnerable coastal communities. For the record, im steve cochran, associate Vice President of Environmental Defense fund and restore the mississippi delta. We are a coalition of three national organizations, the National WideLife Federation and coalition to restore Coastal Louisiana and the lake baisn foundation, for over ten years the coalition has worked together across the louisiana coast in addition to my own written statement which is submitted for the record, Coalition Members national wildlife, also submitted written testimony and i hope the committee can give them due consideration as well. This morning i would like to take a little bit about challenges in my home state. Louisiana, as senator cassidy said, we have a coastal crisis. As Congress Begins to look at werta, i want to focus on possible solutions from what we believe our lessons from the front. Louisiana coast since the 1930s has lost about 1900 square miles, as senator car per knows, that loss is roughly the state of delaware. Without action u we are projected to lose up to another 4,000 square miles within the next 50 years. The losses have dramatic implications for millions of people and their communities along the coast for nationally Significant Energy and infrastructure for globally significant port facilities and world class habitat that supports countless wildlife species including recreational fisheries. While its unique, challenges are reflected across the country. As the committee knows 2017 senator car per pointed this out earlier set the record for wealtherrelated damages across the country majority which were from hurricanes and floods. As you would imagine, we spent a lot of time in the delta thinking about solutions, so from that perspective, here is general concept that is we would recommend as you consider werta, first, coastlines are complex system in each area requires carefully considered measures to adopt a changing conditions. Second, no engineered or natural structure is 100 effective against all storms but Structural Solutions can be rendered far more effect in concert with natural processes. And third are critical infrastructure, they need to be restored so that they can be used specifically to reduce the impacts and costs of floods and storms. Now n louisiana, state and partnerships have used the concept, concepts constructing their own approach. Louisianas master plan for sustainable coast is a document which guides comprehensive state Planning Initiative based on cutting edge science and modeling, its driven by priorities, recognizes fine identity finite funding and enjoys bipartisan support. Its updated every five years to incorporate the latest science and reflect progress. Each update must be approved by the state legislature and each of three iterations over 15 years have been approved unanimously. Giving communities a voice in their own future. We strongly recommend that other states examine the mast e plans approach as useful guide. As for details, gray projects like rock shorelines or levies are complemented with restored wetlands, barrier islands, oyster reefs. These combination of these measures are organized to create a multiple line of defense as you can see my colleague holding here, you see the array of various approaches that can be married together both structural and and natural to really provide the sort of multiple lines of defense, thats true along rivers, its true along coastlines and this this kind of thinking that we would recommend to committees and project that is support incentives built into the system going forward. The next chart is just simply a specific version done specific to louisiana, where you can actually see how it works in our setting. These charts are in the written testimony and you can look at them in more detail that way. Now, the natural aspects of these are really been beneficial because they have so many cobenefits. Oyster reefs, grow oysters, while the storm surges, that can be stopped by wetlands, wild wetlands maintain significant habitat. Maritime swamp and supporting vast numbers of wildlife and commercial species. So its the things together that we really think make the most sense particularly as we have limited assets and finite resources going forward. One final element i want to tell you about, senator cassidy mentioned was the version, unique, approach, originally authorized to make point in werta2007 under different name, it would take 2500 cubic feet, strategic times in the cycle deliver to wetland in western side of the river and in doing so it would use the power of measure to build and sustain tens of thousands wetlands of acres, they will in turn provide buffering for the levies which inside of which are communities and the industry that we depend upon so you get the mixed of natural infrastructure protecting built infrastructure, protecting our communities and coast, is that combination that we think makes the most sense. Now, its a wonderful approach for us but i have to add here that these kinds of projects are not without challenges. In this case, because of the projects essential nature of work, the state has decide today fund it entirely on its own through resource that is came through the deep water horizon penalties, those, of course, are federal permitting as they should be and i want to underscore importance of perspective of Environmental Review and even our opposition to some of the forms of streamlining that we have seen, however, the federal permitting timeline of nearly 5 years for the urgent already longstudy project is unacceptable given urgency that we face and in this case, some delays stem from several factors including the challenges some agencies confront in accounting for what happens if no action is taken at all. Now, given the urgency of this crisis and the challenges associated with it, it may be that a target legislative solution is required which have done carefully and without damage to the underlying statute we support. Here and elsewhere we are encouraging permitting agencies to work cooperatively and find ways and consolidate the permitting timelines and in louisiana deploying multiple license lines of defense but to be successful, it needs reliable, effective federal partner that can provide timely and appropriate resources and stay focused on solution as the Committee Moves forward with authorization we encourage you to think about that formula for the rest of the country as well, i went a little bit long and thank you for your patience. I will start with you, if i can, many stakeholders who work with the core of engineers have commented and maybe complained a little bit about the process that it follows to get from identifying a Water Resources problem to implementing a solution and can be long and costly delays, for example, in the west, there are many water supply challenges that havent yet been solved such as remove and water supply needs, drinking water, irrigation, all from single reservoir. As a result the water supply is becoming scarce and more expensive. Could you please share any thought that is you might have as to how to improve the processes so the water resource projects are operated more efficiently . Thank you, senator, we actually have a number of suggestions but in the interest of time im going to limit it to two. First, improve the inner governmental collaboration between the core and local governments, the core has a lot of Technical Assistance that is very valuable to local governments but the processes an permits that they have often prohibit or slow down projects from moving forward and secondly congress may want to consider doing requiring the core to do a regulatory efficiency assessment of corp. Processes and have corp. Submit to congress the results of this with potential alternatives on how theyre going to address it. Thank you. And you said you are going to share two additional ones that you would like to add in writing we would be happy to receive those. We would be happy to do so. Thank you, mr. Robinson as well as mr. Friedman, ports and inlands are