January 25, 2006

Mr. Donald C. Strimbeck
Post Office Box 519
Granville, West Virginia 26534

Dear Donald,

Thank you for contacting me in regard to S. 728, the Water Resources Development Act of 2005 (WRDA). It is always good to hear from a fellow West Virginian.

As you know, S. 728, the Water Resources Development Act of 2005 (WRDA) was introduced by Senator Christopher Bond (R-MO) on April 6, 2005. This bill would authorize Army Corps of Engineers planning and construction activities with regard to water resources facilities primarily for flood and damage reduction, navigation, and environmental purposes.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that cost to the federal government of this bill would be at $4.1 billion from 2006 to 2010 and an additional $7.6 billion from 2011 to 2020. This bill was voted out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, but has not been brought to the floor for a vote by the full Senate.

Last year was a very difficult one for many West Virginians, as our state experienced some of the worst flooding on record. I believe that it is important that we ensure that victims of this flooding are able to recover and move on with their lives, and to do what we can to avoid future incidents. Unfortunately, because of the difficult financial situation faced by Congress in the wake of the Administration's fiscally irresponsible tax cuts to the very wealthy, some authorized projects will not be fully funded. The Corps is entrusted with preserving our nation's water resources in a matter contributing to the economy, while protecting the environment. When Congress passed the authorization bills for the fiscal year 2005, the Corps was appropriated $4.7 billion, nearly $600 million above the Administration's request, which many in Congress believed was inadequate. The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina may provoke a new debate of the merits of more adequate funding for the Corps and disaster assistance in general.

I want to assure you that I take the task of protecting our environment very seriously, and that I am keenly aware of the need to strike a balance between environmental concerns and policies that affect our economy. I am proud of my efforts to encourage economic development in southern West Virginia while preserving our natural beauty, and I know that much work remains to be done. I assure you that I will keep your input in mind whenever Congress addresses this issue.

Again, thank you for taking the time to be in touch. My very best to you.

Sincerely,

John D. Rockefeller IV