Sen. Chuck Grassley has pressed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to explain the flawed policy that leads to the downgrading of flood control projects in Iowa cities for funding prioritization. He has cited Cedar Rapids and Des Moines as losing priority under the broken formula. Grassley helped secure the inclusion of language stating that the Corps of Engineers shall expedite the completion of the authorized project for Cedar Rapids flood damage reduction and flood risk management in legislation that became law last year. Grassley made the following comment on testimony today from Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett on flood control needs before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
“It’s important that Mayor Corbett has the opportunity to share the ongoing flood protection needs of Cedar Rapids with the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. This committee has been helpful in getting this project authorized and most recently prioritized as a key project in last year’s water resources bill. The congressional delegation continues to work to find any opportunity to get this project funded. I also look forward to meeting with and educating the incoming civilian head of the Army Corps of Engineers when that person is nominated and confirmed about the importance of this project and how we can move it forward. The Corps has to be persuaded to see the common sense of working on prevention and getting the most bang for the buck in the budget. It just makes sense that we spend millions of dollars now, instead of billions of dollars over time, to protect life, property, and the economic vitality of Cedar Rapids.”
