WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg and Sen. Robert Menendez (both D-NJ) on Nov. 8 voted to override President Bush’s veto of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The measure would authorize more than $480 million in federal funds for Army Corps of Engineers projects in New Jersey.
On Nov. 6, U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd) also voted to override the Presidential veto. At that t ime, he noted the affected projects in this district include:
• A $136 million authorization for construction of the Sea Isle City and portions of Strathmere beach replenishment project and periodic renourishment over 50 years (Note: A Congressional authorization is required prior to the appropriation of federal funds for the project – federal funds were not and have not been appropriated for this project at this time).
• Explicit authorization for the Army Corps to remove debris from the Delaware River that would be hazards to navigation. This provision came about as a result of the Athos I oil spill which was caused by a discarded anchor that ripped a hole in the haul of the ship;
• Authorization to incorporate the Cape May Point National Shoreline Erosion Control Demonstration Project at the boroughs six beach cells into the Lower Cape May Meadows Project. This would enable the Army Corps to replenish the beach cells when the Meadows Project receives periodic renourishment;
• Explicit authorization for the Army Corps to conduct the oyster revitalization project in the Delaware Bay. This is continuation of a project already underway in conjunction with Rutgers University;
• A provision originally included in “Community Beaches Protection Act” (HR 1504) to reauthorize and expand the National Shoreline Erosion Control Development and Demonstration Program. The provision will extend the program’s life, allow cost sharing with local communities, permit the removal of projects that do not perform and increase the federal funding for the Program to $30 million annually. Cape May Point is the site of the nation’s first project under the Shoreline Erosion Program where they are testing artificial reefs for erosion control.
“President Bush never had a problem spending our money to build a lavish swimming pool for our Baghdad embassy, but he vehemently opposed funding to prevent New Jersey homes from getting flooded,” said Menendez in a release.
“Those aren’t our state’s priorities. This victory in overriding the president’s veto will help improve our public safety, clean our waterways, help protect New Jersey communities from flooding and restore our coastline, especially in the midst of recent beach erosions caused by Hurricane Noel along our Jersey shore,” Menendez stated.
“This bill will improve public safety, restore our coastline, clean our waterways and help protect New Jersey communities from flooding,” said Sen. Lautenberg who, as a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, helped author the bill and ushered it through the Senate and in Conference with the House.
“President Bush should never have vetoed this bill. While the President is spending $3 billion every week in Iraq, he remains unwilling to spend the money for critical needs here at home. It’s time to invest in America’s priorities here at home,” Lautenberg stated.
