SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 24
(By Senators Hunter, Oliverio, Prezioso, Rowe, Sprouse, Ross and
Unger)
Urging Congress to enact legislation addressing the navigational
needs on our nation's rivers and provide funding therefor.
Whereas, A decline in river commerce on our nation's navigable
rivers has resulted in severe cutbacks in federal funding for
maintenance and operation of locks and dams on these rivers by the
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers; and
Whereas, The severity of this problem within the Pittsburgh
District of the Army Corps of Engineers which serves the
Monongahela River in West Virginia and the upper reaches of the
Allegheny River in Pennsylvania is causing great harm to commercial
and recreational users of these two rivers and to the communities
and businesses that rely on unhindered navigation of these rivers;
and
Whereas, Legislation, and funding therefor, requiring the Army
Corps of Engineers to base river navigational budgets not only on
the tonnage of commerce, but also on the value of such commerce,
the needs of recreational users of the river and the importance of
all such river uses to the economic well-being and development of
communities and regions bounding the river merits enactment by
Congress; and
Whereas, The congressional delegations of West Virginia and
Pennsylvania are urged to seek funding that will enable the
Pittsburgh District of the Army Corps of Engineers to fully meet
the navigational needs of all river users and communities for the
Monongahela and Allegheny rivers; and
Whereas, Representative Alan Mollohan's request for $5 million
for research on the feasibility of automating lock operations which
would directly permit remote operation of lock chambers for
Monongahela locks and to also develop a national technology base
for future combination of cost reductions with service improvements
deserves congressional support; and
Whereas, Congressional funding for studies of how the federal
government might partner with states and local communities on
innovative ways to fund and operate river navigational needs is
essential; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby urges Congress to enact
legislation addressing the navigational needs on our nation's
rivers and provide funding therefor; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislature urges Congress to
authorize funding for studies of how the federal government might
partner with states and local communities on innovative ways to
fund and operate river navigational needs; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Clerk of the
United States House of Representatives, the Clerk of the United
States Senate and members of West Virginia's congressional
delegation.
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