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Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, when we considered this bill last month I had some serious reservations about it, especially those parts dealing with oceanfront development, dredging, and other projects to be carried out by the Corps of Engineers.

[Page: H11830]  GPO's PDF

   I thought the House should have had the chance to consider amendments that would have improved the bill and regretted that it was considered under procedures that did not permit that.

   However, I voted for the bill because I strongly support authorizing the important program of environmental restoration for the Everglades.

   The bill then went to conference with the Senate, and today we are considering a revised version that was produced in that conference.

   Compared with the original bill, the conference report is much improved and deserves to be passed and sent to the President for signing into law.

   As has been noted already, the conference report not only authorizes restoration work for the Everglades, it also includes important provisions to improve the way the Corps of Engineers carries out its work. I do not think they fully address all the changes that need to be made, but they are an improvement and deserve support.

   So I will vote for the conference report, and urge its approval by the House.

   Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of the WRDA Conference Report. Let me begin by commending the Chairman of the full committee Chairman SHUSTER and ranking member OBERSTAR. Subcommittee Chairman BOEHLERT and ranking member Mr. BORSKI also deserve special commendation. This important piece of legislation is necessary to improve our ports, waterways and environment. I am especially pleased that the restoration of the Everglades is included in this WRDA package. Though this precious natural resource is located in my home state of Florida, let there be no mistake this is America's Everglades and the bipartisan nature of the restoration effort reflects this.

   In addition, it is widely known that I have serious concerns regarding the participation and inclusion of socially and economically disadvantaged businesses in the Everglades Restoration Plan, the largest environmental restoration project in the history of this nation. The Ranking Member, Mr. OBERSTAR and the administration has been extremely sensitive to this concern and I appreciate his efforts to address the issue. I have received numerous correspondences from residents of my district and across my state, urging that we pass this measure before we adjourn. I urge strong support for this Conference Report and again thank the Chairman and Ranking member for their usual fine work.

   Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Conference Report on S. 2790, the Water Resources Development Act of 2000, the biennial authorization bill for programs and projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

   Since the landmark water resources legislation of 1986, the former Public Works and Transportation Committee, now renamed the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has worked to maintain a consistent two-year authorization schedule for the Corps. It is critical to maintain this two-year cycle to provide continuity to the program and certainly to the non-federal, local sponsors who support Corps projects. This biennial cycle also affords Congress the opportunity to monitor and, if necessary, amend the workings of the Corps program.

   This Conference Report authorizes projects for the entirety of the Corps civil works program. It includes navigation, flood control, shoreline protection, and environmental restoration and protection.

   This bill both builds and rebuilds the Nation's infrastructure. It will allow us to expand international trade through projects to improve our coastal ports and inland navigation system. Through flood control and hurricane and storm damage reduction measures, it will help to meet critical needs to protect lives and property.

   It is no secret that one of the issues that delayed House consideration of this bill until last month was the applicability of the Davis -Bacon Act to non-federal contributions to federal projects of the Corps. I have always believed that Davis -Bacon applies to all aspects of a federal public works project, regardless of whether the Corps is performing the work, or a non-federal sponsor is contributing the work. The key element is that these have always been federal public works projects, and Davis -Bacon should apply.

   I was surprised that the Corps was not consistently applying the Davis -Bacon wage protection provisions to the non-federal contribution for Corps projects. I was prepared to offer legislative language to the bill to rectify this situation--ensuring that the Corps would apply Davis -Bacon Act protections to all aspects of its program.

   I am pleased to say that such legislative action is no longer necessary. Following numerous meetings with the Corps, the Department of the Army, and the Department of Labor, there is agreement within the Administration that my view of the applicability of the Davis -Bacon Act is the correct one. The Davis -Bacon Act wage provisions apply to non-federal contributions to federal Corps of Engineers projects. It applies regardless of whether the non-federal contribution is in cash, or in-kind work for which credit or reimbursement is sought.

   I appreciate the Administration working with me to make sure that the protections of the Davis -Bacon statute are provided to all workers on all federal public works.

   Mr. Speaker, this bill contains an important tribute to our late colleague, and my friend, Bruce Vento. This bill will rename a portion of the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness in my district as the Bruce Vento Unit of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

   Bruce served people of his district nobly, with dignity, with passion, and with purpose. He did the same for the Nation, particularly in preserving and enhancing its parks and wilderness areas. Bruce has been credited with championing hundreds of bills into law that protect and preserve our precious natural resources. I believe that it is most appropriate that one of those precious resources in our home state of Minnesota bears his name in perpetuity, and I am proud that this tribute will be in my Congressional district.

   Mr. Speaker, local newspapers have devoted a lot of time and effort over the past nine months to criticizing the Corps. But, the Corps is a proud institution with a long history. It deserves our praise and respect. Let me share some of its history with my colleagues.

   First, I welcome the opportunity to pay tribute to the organization frequently mentioned in debate here but whose accomplishments are almost never discussed, the Corps of Engineers. The Corps celebrates its 225th birthday this year. During those years it has established itself as the Nation's oldest, largest, and most experienced government organization in the area of water and related land engineering matters. It has provided extraordinary, competent, lifesaving, economic development enhancing service to this country for two and a quarter centuries.

   Few people today know that the Corps of Engineers, among its many responsibilities, once had jurisdiction over Yellowstone National Park. The Corps managed Yellowstone Park for 30 years. Lieutenant Dan Kingman of the Corps, who would later become the Chief Engineers, wrote:

   ``The plan of development which I have submitted is given upon the supposition and in the earnest hope that it will be preserved as nearly as may be as the hand of nature left it, a source of pleasure to all who visit and a source of wealth to no one.''

   A few years later, John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club, said:

   ``The best service in forest protection, almost the only efficient service, is that rendered by the military. For many years, they have guarded the great Yellowstone Park, and now they are guarding Yosemite. They found it a desert as far as underbrush, grass and flowers are concerned. But, in two years, the skin of the mountains is healthy again, blessings on Uncle Sam's soldiers, as they have done the job well, and every pine tree is waving its arms for joy.''

   Another great American said: ``The military engineers are taking upon their shoulders the job of making the Mississippi River over again, a job transcended in size only by the original job of creating it.'' That was Mark Twain.

   Those statements together pay tribute to what the Corps of Engineers has done so admirably, and the great legacy they have left for all Americans protected in floods, enhanced with river navigation programs, and, of immense importance to me, by protecting the great resource of the Great Lakes--one-fifth of all the fresh water on the face of the Earth.

   The Corps of Engineers deserves recognition for all of these works and the great contribution it makes to the economic well-being, and to the environmental enhancement of this country.

   Mr. Speaker, I find it ironic that even while some criticize the Corps, the central piece of this legislation is a project to invest nearly $8 billion in federal, state, and local funds for the greatest environmental restoration project ever conceived. A project that has the support of the Administration, Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, the environmental community, Florida, affected Indian Tribes, local governments, and the business community of South Florida. This critical project has not been entrusted to an agency incapable of carrying out its mission. No, the project has been entrusted to the only agency capable of carrying out the mission.

   The Everglades are dying from years of population growth, and a Corps project that works all too well in draining them. While some criticize the existing Corps project for having harmed the Everglades, it should be recalled that the current system of canals, levees, and pumps that redirect water from the Everglades to the ocean was built with the support and encouragement of Florida and local residents.

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   The project has provided the desired flood and hurricane protection, as well as water supply for South Florida. Unfortunately, when the project was constructed, no one envisioned the dire consequences for the Everglades ecosystem.

   The restoration project initiated in this bill will help restore the Everglades by changing the plumbing of South Florida to more closely resemble historical patterns and amounts. Today, the Everglades receive the wrong amount of water at the wrong times of the year. The Everglades restoration project, when fully implemented, will provide a more natural flow through the Everglades, and the Everglades National Park. It will do so without diminishing flood and hurricane protection for South Florida.

   Mr. Speaker, scores of individuals worked for many years to develop the comprehensive plan to restore the Everglades. For many, their efforts have been acknowledged here and in the Senate. However, I will compliment one individual who has worked tirelessly toward the Everglades restoration project, and whose name has not been mentioned on this Floor.

   Mr. Gary Hardesty of the Corps of Engineers headquarters office has given of himself above and beyond the call of duty to make the Everglades restoration happen. He coordinated the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, was responsible for drafting the Report of the Chief of Engineers, wrote Congressional testimony for numerous hearings, and provided detailed and accurate information to the House and Senate in the drafting of the bill. As Members of Congress know well, there are less visible individuals who make the work we do possible. For the Everglades, Mr. Hardesty is one of the individuals that made the Everglades restoration possible. He deserves the Nation's recognition and gratitude.

   The Conference Report is not just the Everglades and other projects. It also includes a number of provisions to improve the operation of the Corps program. But, I am disappointed that more of the program improvements contained in the House amendment were not acceptable to the Senate. In particular, it is unfortunate that the Conference Report does not include House language to ensure that Corps' projects will successfully mitigate any adverse environmental impacts associated with its projects. I intend to revisit this issue next Congress.

   The Conference Report expands the ability of non-governmental entities to participate as non-federal sponsors of projects. This is particularly important for environmental restoration and improvement projects where local organizations are anxious to work with the Corps to improve the environment.

   Mr. Speaker, this water resources bill is worthy of strong bipartisan support. It is consistent wiht other Water Resources Acts that Congress has approved overwhelmingly over the past 15 years. We should give this Conference Report that same overwhelming support today.

   I urge all Members to support the Conference Report on S. 2796, the Water Resources Development Act of 2000.

   Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman SHUSTER, Mr. OBERSTAR, and my Subcommittee Chairman Mr. BOEHLERT, and Ranking member Mr. BORSKI for their support and dedication in moving this important legislation forward. Additionally, I would like to express my gratitude for their tireless efforts to move my bipartisan legislation, H.R. 828. While it is not part of this package, I am pleased that an agreement was reached that will result in the eventual passage of this important legislation.

   I would also like to express appreciation to all those Members who played a key role including Congressman LATOURETTE who is a leader on this issue as well.

   I am pleased that we will pass WRDA today, legislation that will have a positive impact on communities across the country and I look forward to continuing our work to provide clean water for the citizens of this great nation.

• [End Insert]

   The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. PEASE). Without objection, the previous question is ordered on the conference report.

   There was no objection.

   The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the conference report.

   The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the ayes appeared to have it.

   Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

   The yeas and nays were ordered.

   The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 312, nays 2, not voting 119, as follows:

   Abercrombie

   Aderholt

   Andrews

   Armey

   Baca

   Bachus

   Baker

   Baldacci

   Baldwin

   Barcia

   Barr

   Barrett (NE)

   Barrett (WI)

   Bartlett

   Barton

   Bass

   Bereuter

   Berkley

   Berry

   Biggert

   Bilirakis

   Blagojevich

   Bliley

   Blunt

   Boehlert

   Boehner

   Bonilla

   Bonior

   Bono

   Borski

   Boyd

   Brady (PA)

   Brady (TX)

   Brown (FL)

   Brown (OH)

   Bryant

   Burr

   Burton

   Buyer

   Callahan

   Camp

   Canady

   Cannon

   Capuano

   Cardin

   Castle

   Chabot

   Coble

   Coburn

   Combest

   Condit

   Cook

   Cooksey

   Costello

   Cox

   Coyne

   Cramer

   Crane

   Crowley

   Cubin

   Cummings

   Cunningham

   Davis (FL)

   Davis (VA)

   Deal

   DeFazio

   DeLauro

   DeLay

   DeMint

   Deutsch

   Diaz-Balart

   Dixon

   Doggett

   Doolittle

   Doyle

   Dreier

   Duncan

   Edwards

   Ehrlich

   Engel

   English

   Eshoo

   Etheridge

   Evans

   Everett

   Fletcher

   Foley

   Ford

   Fossella

   Frelinghuysen

   Frost

   Gallegly

   Gekas

   Gibbons

   Gilchrest

   Gillmor

   Gilman

   Gonzalez

   Goode

   Goodlatte

   Goodling

   Gordon

   Goss

   Graham

   Green (TX)

   Green (WI)

   Gutknecht

   Hall (TX)

   Hastert

   Hastings (WA)

   Hayes

   Hayworth

   Herger

   Hill (IN)

   Hilleary

   Hilliard

   Hinchey

   Hinojosa

   Hobson

   Hoeffel

   Hoekstra

   Holden

   Holt

   Hooley

   Horn

   Hostettler

   Houghton

   Hoyer

   Hulshof

   Hunter

   Hyde

   Inslee

   Isakson

   Istook

   Jackson (IL)

   Jefferson

   Jenkins

   John

   Johnson (CT)

   Johnson, E.B.

   Johnson, Sam

   Jones (NC)

   Kanjorski

   Kaptur

   Kelly

   Kildee

   Kind (WI)

   Kingston

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