Increases Funding for Flood Risk Management Feasibility Studies and to Strengthen DOE Office Of Economic Impact And Diversity
Washington D.C. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee a senior member of the House Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees released the following statement today after the House of Representatives unanimously approved all of her amendments to
the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2017 (H.R. 5055):
Jackson Lee: My amendments will help facilitate the $3 million needed to fund the Army Corps of Engineers Houston Regional Watershed Assessment flood risk management feasibility study and to expand the pool of persons with STEM training and skills needed to enhance the nations economic competitiveness and enable more of our people to realize their full potential."
I am gratified that the House has approved my amendments whichwill help facilitate the $3 million needed to fund the Army Corps of Engineers Houston Regional Watershed Assessment flood risk management feasibility study and to expand the pool of persons with STEM training and skills needed to enhance the nations economic competitiveness and enable more of our people to realize their full potential.
The Energy and Water Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (H.R. 5055) provides that the Secretary of the Army may initiate up to six new study starts during fiscal year 2017 and that five of those studies are to consist studies where the majority of the benefits are derived from flood and storm damage reduction or from navigation transportation savings. My discussion on the House floor about Jackson Lee Amendment with Chairman Simpson and Ranking Member Kaptur of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee made a compelling case and legislative record that the Houston Regional Watershed Assessment Flood Risk Management Feasibility study is most deserving to be selected by the Secretary of the Army as one of the new study starts.
The Houston Regional Watershed Assessment study is critically needed given the frequency and severity of historic-level flood events in recent years in and around the Houston metropolitan area. On April 15 2016 an estimated 240 billion gallons of water fell in the Houston area over a 12 hour period which resulted in several areas exceeding the 100 to 500 year flood event record.
The purpose of the Houston Regional Watershed Assessment is to identify risk reduction measures and optimize performance from a multi-objective systems performance perspective of the regional network of nested and intermingled watersheds reservoir dams flood flow conveyance channels storm water detention basins and related Flood Risk Management (FRM) infrastructure. Special emphasis of the study which covers 22 primary watersheds within Harris Countys 1756 square miles will be placed on extreme flood events that exceed the system capacity resulting in impacts to asset conditions/functions and loss of life.
I am also very pleased the House adopted my amendment increasing funding for DOEs Office of Economic Impact and Diversity whichdevelops and executes policies that strengthen diversity and inclusion goals affecting equal employment and access to opportunities for all including small and disadvantaged businesses minority serving institutions and communities that historically have been underrepresented.
The Office of Economic Impact and Diversity will use the funding provided by the legislation to the Department of Energy to identify and implement ways of ensuring that Minority Serving Institutions women and minority owned small business veterans and persons with disabilities are afforded an opportunity to participate fully in the Department of Energys employment programs and procurement and contracting opportunities.
In addition the Jackson Lee Amendment will help ensure thatinformation regarding the benefits of education and training in STEM fields is made available by the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity to women and students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Expanding the pool of persons with STEM training and skills will increase the nations economic competitiveness and enable more of our people to realize their full potential.
It is extremely gratifying that the Jackson Lee Amendments enjoyed the overwhelming and bipartisan support of my colleagues in the House."