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Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) applauded the passage of the U.S. House Energy and Water Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2014, which funds critical national infrastructure programs while reducing spending below previous fiscal years and working towards a balanced budget.

Additionally, the bill includes language within the committee report that would help level the playing field among small and large cities regarding the Army Corps of Engineers' utilization of current benefit-cost analyses in its budgeting process.  Currently, small communities of 50,000 or less are at a disadvantage in comparison to larger urban counterparts under the Army Corps utilization of traditional, narrow, benefit-cost analyses in its budgeting process.

“I am pleased to see this language included in the committee report, which will be helpful to smaller communities, such as Findlay and Ottawa, when competing for federal funding to assist with a region’s flood mitigation challenges,” said Latta. “The Blanchard River Flood Mitigation Project has been upheld by the Army Corps as a national model for flood risk management projects.”

There was additional language included in the committee report to help projects that were not included in the President’s FY14 budget. It also clarifies that projects could receive federal funds if they received funding in one of the three previous fiscal years.

“In order to create a more level playing field, it is important that the Army Corps look at the overall community impact of a project. The local communities of Findlay and Ottawa have been, and continue to be, supportive by providing funding this project. It is critical to keep this project on track to implement a permanent flood control solution on the Blanchard River,” Latta concluded.

Earlier this month, Latta along with U.S. Senators Brown and Portman, sent a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy requesting for an update on the status of available funds to be reprogrammed to the project.

Click here to view the language that was included in the House Energy and Water Appropriations bill report.

To view a full copy of the committee report, click here.

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