Washington, DC- Congressman Steve King (R-IA) released the following statement regarding H.R. 3719, legislation he introduced requiring that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ensure that the levees and other flood control infrastructure damaged by this year’s flooding along the Missouri River is returned to the elevation and design that predates the 2011 flood before any funds are expended to carry out environmental work by the Corps in the River basin.
“Repairing and reconstructing the levees and other flood control infrastructure that was damaged by the Missouri River flooding must be the Corps’ top priority,” said King. “I introduced this legislation knowing that an entire population along the River cannot rebuild until the levees are repaired and many farmers will have to pay triple what they paid last year for crop insurance until the levees are repaired and rebuilt. The legislation will ensure that the Corps directs as much funding as possible to the high priority work of repairing and rebuilding the levees that protect the lives, property, and livelihoods of those living in the River bottom.”