(Washington, DC)—Congress overwhelmingly voted this week to override President Bush’s veto of H.R. 1495, the Water Resources Development Act, an infrastructure bill authorizing hundreds of critical projects, including those to protect communities across the country from natural disasters such as hurricanes, storm surge and flooding. 

Included in the legislation is an authorization to fund a regional flood control project requested by Congressman Moore (KS-03) and Congressman Cleaver (MO-05), who both supported the veto override.  Specifically, the bill authorizes $65,430,000, with a federal cost of $42,530,000 and an estimated local cost of $22,900,000, for construction of improvements to the Kansas and Missouri river levee system and the flood damage reduction project in the Kansas City metro area. 

“I was Mayor of Kansas City during the Flood of 1993 and have seen first hand the danger to life and property posed by flooding. It is not an exaggeration to say that the projects authorized by this bill save lives. As we have seen along the Gulf Coast and know from our own costly experience in 1993, it is much cheaper to invest to prevent flooding, than to clean up its aftermath,” said Congressman Cleaver. “This measure represents a common sense investment in the future. I am always proud to work with Congressman Moore to bring federal dollars home to address our critical needs.”

The existing Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas Levees Project consists of seven levee units including 60 miles of levees and floodwalls along both banks of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.  During the 1993 flood, river levels crested near the top of the levees and floodwalls at several locations.  The analysis in the aftermath of the flood raised concerns about the level of protection and capabilities of the system to protect from future floods. 

An interim report from the Army Corps of Engineers’ feasibility study, completed in late 2006, established improvement milestones for the Argentine, Fairfax/Jersey Creek, North Kansas City and the East Bottoms Levee Units.  This report recommends underseepage, retaining wall, and floodwall modifications to improve the reliability of Missouri River units, and also recommends a levee raise with foundation and pump station improvements for the Argentine Unit on the Kansas River.   The final feasibility report, which will be completed in 2008, will provide recommendations for the remaining work in the Armordale, Central Industrial District and East Bottoms Units.

“Our job in Congress is to fund the programs and projects that will make us stronger and safer, and move our country forward,” Congressman Moore said.  “Given the extreme damage and devastation that natural disasters can cause, we must be vigilant in our efforts to protect our people and our land.  Congressman Cleaver and I strongly believe in the importance of working across state lines to do what’s best for our metro region and this funding is a direct result of that cooperation.”

The House voted on Tuesday to override President Bush’s veto by a 361-54 vote.  The Senate approved the override on Thursday with a vote of 79-14.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Belton, Raymore and Peculiar, Missouri. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and the Speaker’s Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Congressman Cleaver also serves as a Regional Whip of the Democratic Caucus and Second Vice-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.