This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, July 20, 2011 - WASHINGTON - Following in the footsteps of U.S. senators from the region, 16 House members from seven states -- including Missouri's entire congressional delegation -- have formed a working group to discuss flood control and management of the Missouri River.
The House Missouri River Flood Working Group, organized by freshman U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., and announced Wednesday by several lawmakers, plans to examine this year's flooding and scrutinize Army Corps of Engineers policies in managing the Big Muddy.
"When the waters recede, we are going to need some straight answers from the Corps," said Noem, a farmer and rancher. She conceded that the interests of the group's members are diverse, "but our desire to make sure the devastating flooding we are seeing this year doesn't repeat itself brings us together."
Both Reps. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, and Sam Graves, R-Tarkio, said in their announcements that they wanted to highlight what they view as a disparity between funding for endangered species and ecosystem restoration versus funding for operations and maintenance of flood control systems.
Last week, Luetkemeyer added an amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill that would cut next year's funding for the Missouri River Ecosystem Restoration Plan, or MR-ERP. Graves added an amendment that would transfer $1 million from the related Missouri River Recovery Program to an Army Corps of Engineers account to be used to maintain levees. "My district has seen first-hand the need for a new plan for the Missouri River," said Graves, whose northwest Missouri district has been hit hard by this summer's flooding. "Many of my constituents are suffering through a severe and prolonged flood caused by our current [river] management plan."
Graves said the Missouri and Kansas delegations planned to work together to make sure that any new plan focuses on flood prevention and other interests of the river's "lower basin." In his statement, Luetkemeyer made it clear that, in addition to flood control, river navigation also remains an important interest. Traditionally, navigation has been a higher priority in the river's lower basin, while recreation and water dominate upper basin lists.
"While the upper and lower basins have historically had different management philosophies, we must try to work together to ensure that the best policies affecting the Missouri River are put into place," Luetkemeyer said. "At the same time, we intend to continue the fight to ensure that those living in the lower basin have the best available flood control technology, appropriate and fair access to water, and the ability to move their agricultural and manufactured goods to domestic and international markets."
Other than Reps. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City, and St. Louis Democrats Russ Carnahan and William Lacey Clay, most members of the House group, which is expected to meet later this summer, are Republicans. By contrast, the seven-state U.S. Senate group, which met last week, has seven senators from each party.
In addition to Noem and all nine members of Missouri's U.S. House delegation, Noem's office said the other lawmakers in the working group are: Reps. Rick Berg, R-ND; Lynn Jenkins, R-Kan.; Steve King, R-Iowa, Denny Rehberg, R-Mont.; Lee Terry, R-Neb.; and Kevin Yoder, R-Kan.
Jenkins, who represents an area of eastern Kansas hit hard by the flood, said she looked forward to speaking out "about the true impact of these flood waters and the importance of updating our river management strategies to prevent future devastating floods."