[Excerpts from Nov. 6th Senator Dorgan Press Release]
U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad and U.S. Representative Earl Pomeroy announced Thursday that a joint House-Senate Conference Committee approved more than $68 million in funding for several major flood control, water system and energy projects in North Dakota. Senator Dorgan is a member of the conference committee that finalized the bill Wednesday.

The conference committee approved $36 million for the Grand Forks Flood Control project – nearly $13 million more than the Bush Administration recommended – and $27.4 million for the Dakota Water Resources Act, which includes the Northwest Area Water Supply (NAWS) project in Minot and other areas. That funding is $10 million more than the President requested in his budget.

The bill also provides $1 million to the Army Corps of Engineers to continue flood control work in Wahpeton and another $1 million to continue the flood control construction project across the river in Breckenridge, Minnesota. Together, these projects are needed to provide effective flood control in this region of the Red River Valley. The President’s budget proposed eliminating funding for these projects.

The conference report goes next back to the House and Senate for final approval before reaching the President for his signature.

Full Release

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