Key Congressional Panel Approves $20 Million

Congressman Mike Thompson (D-Napa Valley) announced today that a key Congressional panel has approved a $20 million federal appropriation for the Napa Flood Control project. The funds were approved by the House Energy and Water Subcommittee as part of the FY2005 appropriations bill. Thompson said the new funding is $13 million above the President's budget request but equal to what the Army Corps of Engineers has determined necessary to keep the project on schedule to protect homes and businesses from another massive flood. “This is great news for a national model that will save lives and property for generations to come.” Project Manager Heather Stanton said Thompson's efforts to secure full funding will also save taxpayer dollars down the road. “Any delays to this project impact its final cost. Mike's efforts to convince the committee that the Corps limited resources should remain focused on projects already under construction were critical in helping us remain on schedule.” In January of this year, the Napa Project received $2.7 million in an omnibus spending bill to boost appropriations for the current year (FY 2003-2004) to $12.7 million, near the requested $15 million. For the upcoming year (FY 2004-2005) the requested appropriation of $20 million was reduced to only $7 million by the White House in its budget released in February. Thompson, who has worked on the project throughout his service in Congress as well as in the State Senate, said it is critical not only to the flood protection of downtown Napa but also to the economic vitality of the entire county. The floods of 1995 along the Napa River caused over $85 million of damage to Napa County and resulted in damage to 27 businesses and 843 residences. The Energy and Water Subcommittee is considered one of the toughest hurdles in the appropriations process. The funding now moves forward to be considered by the full House and Senate. # # #