03.07.16

Hoeven Works to Secure Additional Corps Funding for Permanent Flood Protection in Minot

Senator Secured Authorization, Funding in FY16 to Begin Minot Flood Study

WASHINGTON – At an appropriations hearing on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ 2017 budget, Senator John Hoeven worked to secure additional funding to advance permanent flood protection for the Minot region. Hoeven secured $200,000 in Fiscal 2016 funds to begin a flood protection study this year and is working to secure an additional $500,000 in Fiscal Year 2017 to advance the study. Hoeven thanked Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy and Army Corps Chief of Engineers Lieutenant General Thomas P. Bostick for selecting Minot and the Souris River Basin as one of its new studies this year and emphasized the importance of the additional funding to move forward the project in a timely manner. 

“We appreciate the Corps’ support of this flood study for the Minot region,” said Hoeven. “This study will enable the Corps to aid the city in developing a comprehensive, multi-phase flood protection project for the Minot region. We need to keep this project moving forward to protect people and property in this community.”

Last month, Hoeven announced that the Corps has selected the city of Minot and the Souris River Basin for one of its new permanent flood protection studies in Fiscal Year 2016 and provided $200,000 in funding for the study.

As a member of the Energy and Water Appropriations Committee, Hoeven worked to include critical authorization and funding for Corps projects in the FY 2016 budget. The legislation provides an additional $690 million in the Army Corps of Engineers’ budget for new studies and construction activity to help advance permanent flood protection projects in communities like Minot. Hoeven also worked on the Committee to include language in the FY 2016 Energy and Water funding bill that supports flood projects in North Dakota, which was also included in the year-end legislation. Hoeven also pressed for the new study last year during a hearing of the Energy and Water Appropriations Committee.

In October, Hoeven secured support for initiating a flood prevention feasibility study for the Minot region during a meeting with Darcy and Bostick. Hoeven then followed up with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Donovan to urge support for the project, which required signoff from OMB to move forward.

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