[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 6] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 8385] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1999 ______ speech of HON. TOM BLILEY of virginia in the house of representatives Thursday, April 29, 1999 The House in Committee of the Whole House of the State of the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1480) to provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources, to authorize the United States Army Corps of Engineers to construct various projects for improvements to rivers and harbors of the United States, and for other purposes: Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 1480, a bill to authorize the United States Army Corps of Engineers to construct various projects for improvements to rivers and harbors of the United States, and for other purposes. Section 326 of the legislation, which addresses the modification of a project on the West Bank of the Mississippi River for flood control and storm damage reduction, contains language which clarifies the application of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, commonly known as ``Superfund,'' to the project. As you know, the Superfund statute is a matter within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Commerce, and this provision falls within that jurisdiction. However, I have no objection to the inclusion of this provision. I recently sent Chairman Shuster a letter indicating that I would not seek a sequential referral of the bill, and ask unanimous consent that the letter appear in the Record at this point. House of Representatives, Committee on Commerce, Washington, DC, April 27, 1999. Hon. Bud Shuster, Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Bud: I am writing with regard to H.R. 1480, a bill to provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources, to authorize the United States Army Corps of Engineers to construct various projects for improvements to rivers and harbors of the United States, and for other purposes. Section 326 of the legislation, modifying the project for flood control and storm damage reduction, West Bank of the Mississippi River (East of Harvey Canal), Louisiana, contains provisions within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Commerce. Specifically paragraph (a)(1) clarifies the application of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (``CERCLA'') of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) to the project. Because of the importance of this legislation, I recognize your desire to bring it before the House in an expeditious manner, I will not exercise the Committee's right to a sequential referral. By agreeing to waive its consideration of the bill, however, the Commerce Committee does not waive its jurisdiction over H.R. 1480. In addition, the Commerce Committee reserves its authority to seek conferees on any provisions of the bill that are within its jurisdiction during any House-Senate conference that may be convened on this legislation. I ask for your commitment to support any request by the Commerce Committee for conferees on H.R. 1480 or similar legislation. I request that you include this letter as part of the Record during consideration of the legislation on the House floor. Thank you for your attention to these matters. I remain, Sincerely, Tom Bliley, Chairman. ____________________