news

Congressman for All Alaska Don Young voted today in support of H.R. 1495, the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (WRDA).  WRDA seeks to provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources, as well as to authorize the Secretary of the Army to construct various projects for improvements to rivers and harbors of the United States, among other things.  H.R. 1495 is an investment in the nation’s infrastructure that will provide considerable economic and environmental benefits to the country.

“This time we are going to see WRDA through,” said Congressman Young.  “I have been working on this bill since my days as Chairman of the Transportation Committee and believe it is a necessity.  This is a very important bill for our country; it provides significant support for our infrastructures and waterways.  This bill is long overdue, is critical to our nation’s well-being and economic vitality, and is very important to Alaska.  In a state like Alaska, where many of our rural communities don’t have the feasibility or economic standing to provide for things like their environmental restoration and protection, clean water supplies, and irrigation, a bill like this helps them out tremendously.  I am proud of the work we’ve done on this bill and proud of the help it will offer my constituents.”

Alaska related projects included in WRDA are as follows:

• Haines navigation project
• Nelson Lagoon shoreline protection
• King Cove navigation project
• Sitka Harbor correct design deficiencies of breakwater
• Tatitlek navigation project
• Kuskokwim – study for navigation project
• St. George Harbor – study for navigation improvements
• Susitna River – feasibility study for hydropower project
• Valdez Harbor expansion
• Whittier Harbor feasibility study for expansion& construction if necessary
• Wrangell navigation project dredging mooring basin
• Barrow nonstructural project for storm damage and erosion
• Coffman Cove navigation project
• Ft. Yukon dike repairs
• Kotzebue navigation project
• Lowell Creek, Seward – Secretary assumes responsibility of repair & maintenance methods of flood diversion
• St. Herman and St. Paul Harbors, Kodiak removal of impeding materials on emergency basis
• Tanana River removal of materials on emergency basis
• Black Lake ecosystem restoration
• Port Lions navigation project
• Cook Inlet dredging - Port of Anchorage
• Fire Island barge landing facility
• Increase of funds for wastewater infrastructure, water supply, and environmental restoration for publicly owned or Native Corporation owned projects

####