December 2002 House Echoes NWF

December 2002

House Echoes NWF's Call
End Wasteful and Destructive Corps Projects

Great blue herons and other wetland creatures were
aided by congressional action in October, when House
leaders pulled a bill that failed to reform destructive
practices of the Army Corps of Engineers.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

In a dramatic victory for people, wildlife and the environment, the House of Representatives took the 2002 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) off the floor in early October, a clear signal that the bill lacked adequate support without language to reform the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

"This proves that Americans don't want to pay for pork-barrel projects that destroy our environment," says NWF President Mark Van Putten. "The bill sank because an unreformed Corps just won't float anymore." WRDA, which authorizes Corps water projects, was scheduled for floor action under a rule that would have prohibited debate on key amendments critical to reforming the Corps. However, bipartisan pressure from congressional Corps reform leaders, conservationists and taxpayer groups led to a decision to pull the bill. "Americans are behind Corps reform and Congress knows it," says David Conrad, NWF's water resources specialist. "This failed attempt to push pork- barrel water projects through Congress without language that redirects the Corps toward economically sound environmental restoration leaves no doubt that Americans mean business when it comes to managing the nation's rivers, lakes and streams."

Representative James Oberstar (D-MN) and others were fully prepared to offer amendments intended to address a pattern of environmental damage and wasteful spending by the Corps. Among other things, these amendments would revamp the agency's outdated operating rules in order to mirror current approaches to water resource management, make the Corps compensate for damage caused by its water projects, and encourage the Corps to recognize the value of wetlands.

In the Senate, WRDA legislation never made it to the floor. Senator Jim Jeffords (I-VT), chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, stated his clear intention that he would "not pursue a WRDA bill that does not contain meaningful Corps reform."

Greening the Corps is an issue that has traditionally received bipartisan support in Congress as well as backing from the Bush administration. NWF is hopeful that members of the Republican-controlled 108th Congress, scheduled to take office in 2003, will keep up "the good fight" to rein in this agency.

NWF continues to advocate for Corps reforms that make environmental protection and restoration a key goal in addressing water problems, bring accountability and independent review to Corps projects, and save taxpayers from shouldering the huge costs of unjustifiable Corps projects by pulling the plug on initiatives that are wasteful and destructive. To learn more about NWF's efforts, visit http://www.nwf.org/greeningcorps.