Transcripts For CSPAN2 Hearing Focuses On Dam Infrastructure

Good morning. President trump has made improving the nations infrastructure a top priority and this committee is continuing its effort to highlight the nations infrastructure it is critical to the nations prosperity pie as members of this committee as the driver of the nations economy this committee has a long history of working together and a bipartisan way and i would continue that tradition. To have sweeping jurisdiction of the nations infrastructure focusing on the needs of Water Systems in indonesia this committees purview. Fin other western states are highlighting the name needs to prevent catastrophic flooding earlier this month more than 180,000 people were evacuated in california because storms cause serious damage to the oldest and in the United States potential threat concerned of state officials and People Living downstream any future Severe Weather events could make this even more critical ended is raising questions of the readiness of our infrastructure. Diem said levys across the country need to be modernized and maintained to prevent future disasters. I believe any future bill Winter Weather events are occurring across the west that includes i. C. E. Jam flooding in northern wyoming as well as towns located to the south and areas of the reservation. The i. C. E. Jam floods have damaged over 100 homes of roughly 5,000 people to have a serious and lasting impact. In the past blocks the i. C. E. The size of cars have sat on in front lawns and playgrounds. Water Treatment Plants and public parks with Small Businesses they are regular occurrences notches wyoming but other states and for these small towns across of cleanup and repair is an enormous burden that takes months to fully recover. Flooding could be mitigated by the record to allow more flexibility to take the steps they need to protect their communities. We have jurisdiction over those environmental laws often times in rule states federal onesizefitsall rules can be observed on the ground it could to and make a difference of preventing a catastrophic flood you should have to go through bureaucratic featured to remove retreat while the town floods. Peoples lives and property is on the line that is always the case. Teams and levies a animals Common Infrastructure to redress flooding. By new technology can help mitigate the threat including lyceums met with the Water Resources act we had the army Corps Pilot Program to develop costsaving technology to address the threat of vice gms. This committee provided Additional Authority to upstage them local governments and dam owners it is time to implement these authorities. I also like to hear with this committee can do with existing infrastructure to reduce red tape develop lifesaving technology and with that i will turn to the Ranking Member for his statement. Thinks mr. Chairman for bringing this together you have have to be a lot of this different places it is important for you to be here. So talk albee 8020 rules he says the senator from wyoming says as some of the most liberal democrats in conservative publications said we agreed 80 and we disagree on 20 and refocus on the 80 especially to invest wisely with infrastructure. So although it was preciously short is easy to figure out what the Democratic Senators concerns continue to press forward so working on the bipartisan comprehensive way 11a believe members of bullseyes said the ideal can both sides of the aisle can agree on a comprehensive infrastructure plan. By judge any legislation by asine simple question how does this proposal creates a more nurturing environment for job creation . And in addition i also believe that president lincoln would say of the role of government is to do for the people they cannot do for themselves. Wise words. Those decisions that average citizens can make for themselves with instructions of dams and levees and but the communities on a path so to have that predictability and certainty with that type of having a can create so if they feel that kabila loss of life and that is an issue. As we work through that economic devastation with the policy decisions we will struggle with to central points one is the of federalstate vickys infrastructure concerns but is the government up to the challenge . So the mckenzie vocal institute had a 2013 report that said we need to invest between 180 and 150 billion more in infrastructure just to make shut up for the years of under investment from our country from our macro 53 and our safety. And then looking at all components of infrastructure that is applicable to what were talking about today. The same report found the best value of dollars is to maintain investing in interest structure of whether a bridge iridium we have the responsibility and we continue to serve for their purpose. As in mentioned earlier Infrastructure Investment because fox been the same report found letter the best ways to invest is to maintain existing infrastructure before that is not a surprise to any of you but with the bridge your a damn dumb the government has a fundamental responsibility to make sure that they are sound and will serve their purpose protecting their lives better impacted by the bridge youre the diems varied systems. Puzzle in Infrastructure Investment is critical as well as the displaced workers they want to work beside the lets turn them loose. For just as important as the lives and the property of these projects clear looking for to hearing from our friends on their experience with the dam and be californias National Flood Safety Control and it is important to learn from each others experiences and have shared knowledge Going Forward through the legislative process. Been closing the infrastructure is seeking to help our economy continued to grow from the American Society of Civil Engineers from Drinking Water and waste Water Infrastructure want but as we hear testimony untested been hearing what witnesses think of where the gaps need to be filled in maintaining Critical Infrastructure the concept of shared responsibility has been part of our conversations and a share will continue. And also fear thoughts on natural for structure protection and finally while traditional forms of flooded pressure jury feel we need more investment along the shorelines and the wetlands but without these protections they significantly increase me and how the federal government can be more efficient from every dollar of federal investment into manger to be sure maintain those Investment Assets we do not have a onesizefitsall approach but encouraged under the leadership of this man level give us consent that the testimony be given. Without objection. Senator please introduce your guest. Mr. Chairman i want to thank you as well for holding this important hearing today and thank you for working with me to extend an invitation to a great violin on the panel today. I am great me proud to introduce the mayor of cedar rapids to this committee who has been a working tirelessly on behalf of the citizens of cedar rapids to secure state and local funding to rebuild his community after the 2008 flood and what they have done is truly impressive. The assistance from the core is needed to complete the flood Risk Management project and this is something the mayor has been leading the charge on for years. Cedar rapids in communities across my state are in need of Army Corps Assistance but run into hurdles trying to navigate the bureaucracy within the core and omb they just point fingers at each other and it is an issue we try to work through and resolve not just for the people of cedar rapids that many communities across the state of iowa and the nation. We continue working through this event we know this city of delaine also has important levee work and cedar falls is looking and a permit application is still is not approved in addition addition, the system is set to calculate the economic benefits of Flood Control projects places i wins at a disadvantage if prioritizes the buildings and beaches oceanfront property over protecting the people of cedar rapids because of the calculations are based on property value. Cedar rapids is the second largest city in iowa and the success is critical to the economic wellbeing to the state to. They have been deferred to a significant flooding even some 80 years that have cost billions of dollars in devastation and recovery aid. The chorus of discussion made to forgo the assistance even though the community worked with the core to address that flood rest. I look forward to of discussion today. I know you will be detailing for this committee cedar rapids very important story and thank you for being here today to see if we can move forward on this. Senator harris introduce your guest. As recent events in my home stay highlight to assist to our local partners to maintain and upgrade the nations aging infrastructure especially with Critical Systems that could threaten the Public Safety of all americans it is my distinct pleasure to introduce the secretary to has over 40 years of experience working in Public Service from a budget analyst and local elected officials as santa cruz city councilman where he chaired the California Assembly Budget Committee have the pleasure of working with him throughout those years and as his attorney general. In his career role of secretary of Natural Resources and the statewide environmental policies. Including the California Department of Water Resources working around the clock to repair the did p. M. And prepare catastrophic flooding. We had a chance to tour the dam together and he had an extraordinary understanding of the infrastructure and also want to comment that was an extraordinary example of agencies coming together to meet a crisis in terms of its proportion from the members of the National Guard the United States Navy California Emergency Services to came together to meet the challenge in a seamless way. Goes without saying that having Extensive Knowledge and the needs we should consider to sufficiently maintain the infrastructure of this combined with the budgetary experience of all lowells of government can shed light on how congress can leverage funding streams to redress the aging infrastructure. I know that in california alone there are approximately 1,400 diems in nearly half are designated as high hazard potential dams by state officials for realizing that devastation of california has invested 11 billion of lead control management to protect 7 Million People and 580 billion worth of assets that include building farmland and crops at risk. The need for improvement is not solely in california. In states like wyoming investing 1. 2 billion dollars for Infrastructure Improvements and water storage and supply projects in Wastewater Management since 1875 and in addition it is estimated on federally owned dams throughout the nation represent 96 percent of all the 60 billion this is onethird of the cost to repair the high hazard dams. This demonstrates the needed is great throughout our nation by greatly appreciate the chairmans willingness to prioritize and afford to working with my colleagues on this committee that is necessary and critical to maintain our infrastructure nationwide. And to address the crucial topic. That was a very nice introduction. Let me explain where we are today. I have already voted the first time some will be voting and then coming back. With the Opening Statements so be will skip hughes senator and go to the third because he wants to be here during the Opening Statement. General class. General, senator and members of the committee of the thinking for the opportunity to be here today starting the army corps of engineers. One of the primary objectives to maintain the dam and led the infrastructure is reduced risk to the infrastructure. With large Management Practices to have a range of Water Resources benefits. With a risk informed approach to be sure it is met in a transformed and disciplined manner. Water plays a role in every economy and the diversity of the ecosystems. Many has experienced what happens with too little water or too much water or water that is not simply fit to consume natural habitat. The decisions we have made as a nation to protect Water Resources to influence how the nation developed. The of infrastructure includes dams and levees built by the federal government and states and local authorities. Sustaining the benefits provide requires appropriate investment of resources and improper management of although often planned many of the nations dams and levees for of the largest Water Management resource system. It is a small fraction of the dams and levees of our portfolio including 750 dams less than 1 that was identified National Inventory of diems. Also 2500 miles that is less than 10 percent of the roughly 30,000 miles in the inventory of the court generally constructed dams and levees that it operates for flood Risk Management benefits we also support hydropower and recreation begin only sustain the intended function with periodic rehabilitation and in addition many external factors would complicate factors sistine viability ranging from the frequency to the sizes of of populations with the compounding of Decision Making so to address these challenges to make informed adjustments the resources are invested in a technically robust manner in for example, the Safety Program enables the of core that it would provide some or all of the authorized benefits by investing in measures for the dams that the acceptable level coming to levy safety challenges they generally follow project specific authorities for managing infrastructure that the coral and sand operates a also have the authorities for participating in the National Community of the diem and led the safety. The Court Considers the Public Safety and environmental risks the cost of reducing those risk that the proposed improvement would help to provide to society dams and levees are none portion part of the initiative Management Practices are aimed to be wellpositioned with the water resource infrastructure. For the dams and levees the court owns and operates theyre looking to balance the cost and responsibilities that guy proper maintenance and proper management the similar freemarket framework to engineer solutions to have the competency to do just that. We will passover you. To the chair member to use senator ernest and the Staff Members on behalf of the citizens of cedar rapids and those that were carefree day thanks for giving us an opportunity to tell our story today. In june 2008 the cedar river in cedar rapids crested more than 10 feet above any previous flood at 31 feet. The unthinkable happened. The flood waters covered 10 square miles which is 14 percent of our city, 6,865 residential properties, 754 commercial industrial properties, 310 city facilities were damaged total more than 5. 4 billion of losses. The flood devastated our residents, of businesses and entire community. But not all is lost. There are two things we did not lose, senators. One, we did not lose any lives things to our response and our Emergency Response team and hundreds of boat rescues no lives were lost. If you think about it in the various disasters the beach of your respective states and around the country country, often times during the news reports what is included is a death toll with cedar rapids no lives were lost and nine years later to figure we were so successful to save lives. Continue to come back and forth at this time i would like to turn to commissioner terry wolf who is chairman of the county commission, wyoming. He is a former member of the wyoming National Guard and has a degree in administration of justice from university of wyoming. Commissioner has moved back in 1995 to work the oil and gas industry. Upon transitioning out of the National Guard commissionable friend for a seat on the Washakie County commission, was sworn in january 2003. Past president of the Wyoming County commissioners association. Currently Vice President of the whaling association of county officers. Also serves on the National Association of counti