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.