| House Overrides Presidential Veto of Water Resources Development Act
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
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WASHINGTON, DC—House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn today spoke on the House floor in favor of overriding a Presidential veto of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The House voted 361 to 54 to override the President’s veto of the legislation. The bill will now be sent to the Senate for an override vote. Following is Clyburn’s statement.
“Large bipartisan majorities in the House spoke out clearly today by overriding President Bush’s ill-conceived veto of the Water Resources Development Act. The House voted to protect and safeguard the health and wellbeing of millions of Americans living in our nation’s coastal communities. Congress is responding where the President will not, to meet the needs of those individuals displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
“WRDA authorizes billions for coastal restoration of our Gulf Coast to limit damage from hurricanes, storm surge, and flooding. This legislation also authorizes funding to enhance levees surrounding New Orleans. In addition, this bill sets aside $23 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers to commence navigation, beach erosion control, and environmental restoration projects all across the country.
“Katrina and Rita exposed the corrosive vulnerabilities that have destabilized our flood control infrastructures and severely limited our storm protection capabilities. WRDA seeks to eliminate these vulnerabilities and better equip our communities that are susceptible to deadly natural disasters.”
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