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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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July 18, 2003 |
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Berry Works to Channel More Than $167 Million To Arkansas for Water Programs |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Representative Marion Berry (D-AR, 1st) today finished guiding more than $167 million in water projects and programs for Arkansas through the appropriations process as the house passed the 2004 fiscal year Energy and Water Appropriations bill.
“The energy and water needs of the first Congressional District of Arkansas are great. The funds in this bill will protect waterways, develop water infrastructure, promote waterborne transportation and continue the overall excellence Arkansas has shown the nation in our programs’ safety and efficiency.”
Representative Berry requested and received funds totaling more than $167 million for Arkansas projects and programs; that was more than $16 million above the President’s request for such programs. Representative Berry sits on the Energy and Water Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee and because of that seat has a greater ability to help ensure that those projects that need funds get them. For instance:
· Blytheville Harbor - $640,000
This project provides funds to study and initiate construction on a harbor located between the Nucor-Yamato and Nucor-Hickman steel mills on the Mississippi River. The President’s budget did not award any funds to this project; Representative Berry worked to procure $640,000 for the initiative.
· Osceola Harbor - $750,000
This project provides maintenance of a navigation channel for year-round access for barge transportation. The approved channel needs to be dredged to ensure safe and continued use, however the President’s budget dedicated a mere $25,000 for the project; Representative Berry was able to appropriate $750,000 for the project.
In addition to harbor projects, the President’s budget completely disregarded other important projects such as the Greers Ferry Lake, Dam Site Park. However, Representative Berry worked through the Subcommittee and today the House-passed appropriations bill included $2 million for general construction to modernize the dam site park. Also, Berry fought against the President’s refusal to fund projects to gain millions of additional dollars in federal funds needed to maintain and operate the Mississippi Delta levee system and flood control projects vital in protecting homes, families and Arkansas’ agricultural way of life.
The complete list of appropriations most important to Arkansas follows:
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Project |
Account |
President Bush’s Budget Request |
Final Funding as Passed by the House
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St. Francis Basin, AR&MO, |
Mississippi Rivers and Tributaries
Construction |
$2,365,000 |
$5,985,000 |
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Blytheville Harbor |
General Construction |
$0 |
$640,000 |
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Bayou Meto Basin |
Preliminary Engineering and Design |
$0 |
$500,000
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Osceola Harbor |
Operation and Maintenance |
$20,000 |
$750,000 |
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Brownsville Branch, AR |
General Construction |
$0 |
$90,000 |
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Grubbs
Indian Bayou
Higginson
Lost Creek
Spring Creek |
Flood Control Projects |
$0
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$50,000
$500,000
$25,000
$0
$75,000 |
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White River Basin Comp, AR&MO |
General Investigations |
$300,000 |
$1,200,000 |
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Francis Bland Floodway |
Mississippi Rivers and Tributaries
Construction |
$2,050,000 |
$2,050,000 |
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St. Francis R. & Tribs, Main. |
Mississippi Rivers and Tributaries
Maintenance |
$7,505,000 |
$7,505,000 |
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White R. Nav Study |
General Investigations |
$0 |
$150,000 |
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White River Main. Dredging |
Operation and Maintenance |
$200,000 |
$1,200,000 |
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White River Min Flows, AR&MO |
General Investigations |
$0 |
$200,000 |
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Ditch 28
Horseshoe Lake
Mellwood Lake |
Construction General |
$0 |
$85,000
$85,000
$120,000 |
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Helena Harbor |
Operation and Maintenance |
$25,000 |
$25,000 |
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AR River Nav Study, AR&OK |
Investigation, General |
$1,070,000 |
$1,200,000 |
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Helena Harbor, Phillips Ct. |
Mississippi Rivers and Tributaries
Maintenance |
$370,000 |
$370,000 |
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Mont. Point Lock and Dam |
General Construction |
$20 million |
$20 million |
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MS River Levees |
Mississippi Rivers and Tributaries
Maintenance |
$6,340,000 |
$11,690,000 |
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MS River Channel Improvement |
Mississippi Rivers and Tributaries
Construction |
$69,688,000 |
$69,688,000 |
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McClellan-Kerr AR R. Nav. O&M |
Operation and Maintenance |
$29,493,000 |
$29,493,000 |
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Norfork Lake |
Operation and Maintenance |
$3,471,000 |
$3,471,000 |
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Greers Ferry Lake |
Operation and Maintenance |
$6,391,000 |
$6,391,000 |
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Greers Ferry Lake, Dam site park |
General Construction |
$0 |
$2,000,000 |
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