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Liquid_Addiction
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Joined: Jan 23, 2004
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Location: Wilson
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 Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 6:25 pm Post subject: Senator Boseman and others are listening |
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This is an e-mail I recieved today. There is a letter attached that several reps. have signed addressing the situation.
Thank you for contacting me about the lack of adequate federal funding to dredge our inlets. These dredging projects are critical for our local economy and for the safety of those who travel our waters, and I agree with you that Congress needs to hear from the people of North Carolina.
I have joined with other state senators who represent the coast to send a letter to our congressional delegation and to other key members of Congress (see enclosed). As you can see, we are asking them to work to restore funding to levels sufficient to keep our inlets safe and navigable, especially considering that the president has announced his new budget proposal. I hope that you also will contact our federal representatives and stress to them the importance of these inlets to you and to our coastal communities.
Thank you again for contacting my office about this important matter. I hope you will not hesitate to let me know if I can be of further assistance to you in any way.
Julia Boseman
Enclosure
Letters to Members of the North Carolina Delegation; Rep. John J Duncan Jr., Chairman of the Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure-Water Resources & Environment Subcommittee; and Rep. David L. Hobson, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations-Energy & Water Development Subcommittee:
As state senators representing North Carolina's coastal communities, we appreciate this opportunity to share our strong concerns about the lack of adequate funding for dredging in our shallow-draft inlets. We in North Carolina have made substantial investments in dredging, harbor deepening, and other important projects along our coast, and we ask that you work together in Congress to restore dredging funds to whatever level is necessary to make our inlets safe for travel once more.
The Army Corps of Engineers' work along our coast has been crucial for our local and statewide economy, and for protecting the safety of those who travel in our waters. Continuing to underfund federal dredging projects in our shallow-draft waterways threaten the Corps' work and, in turn, our coast.
Our beaches and waters are the basis of economic survival for so many local residents and communities. Commercial fishing, tourism, boat building, and commerce at our ports are just a few of the many industries that depend on our coast. Having navigable inlets is not just an economic issue; it's an issue of public safety. Problems with grounding and shoaling pose a threat to boaters and fishermen, and even to search-and-rescue vessels trying to assist those in danger.
We certainly understand the need for fiscal responsibility. But the fact is that these inlets are critical to our fishermen, our economy and our entire state - that is what makes dredging such a worthwhile investment. It is indeed troubling that proven projects like these lack the funding they need to keep the inlets safe and navigable.
According to news reports, the president's upcoming budget proposal will include $2.5 million for feasibility studies to deepen a channel in Texas. We remain hopeful that if the federal government can afford to spend that amount on a study of a potential future Corps of Engineers project, sufficient funds for the Corps' existing projects at our inlets will also be made available.
On behalf of our coastal communities and our state, we respectfully request that you work together to help make sure funding for these dredging projects is restored to appropriate levels. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance to you in any way.
Signed:
Senator Marc Basnight, 1st District, Senate President Pro Tempore
Senator Julia Boseman, 9th District
Senator A. B. Swindell, 11th District
Senator Charlie Albertson, 10th District
Senator R. C. Soles, 8th District
Senator Scott Thomas, 2nd District
_________________
Steve Brantley
Liquid Addiction
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