Talking Points for Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Miami River Maintenance Dredging Recommencement Event

Friday, February 29, 2008

 

 
At the Miami River sediment processing plant, 3460 NW North River Drive, Miami, FL
Pictured L to R: Mark Bailey, Merrill-Stevens; Luis Garcia, Florida House of Representatives; Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, US Congress; Marc Sarnoff, City Commissioner; Fran Bohnsack, Miami River Marine Group
 

I would like to welcome and offer my thanks to all the elected officials, representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers, and private partners who are in attendance today.  Today we celebrate the remobilization of the widely-supported Miami River Maintenance Dredging Project.  In 2004, members of the South Florida community and other stakeholders gathered along the river in observance of the project’s commencement.  Four years later, the completion of this project is on the horizon.

 

Working together, we have secured approximately $76 million of the project’s total cost.  That means we are only $10 million dollars away from completion. The completion of the Miami River dredging project will significantly improve South Florida’s economy and natural environment.

 

Currently the Miami River’s 24 international shipping terminals are forced to fill cargo to only 50% capacity and navigate by high tide. Upon completion of dredging, vessels will be able to fill cargo to full capacity which will substantially increase international trade, commerce, and local employment. In addition, larger yachts will be able to navigate the River in order to be serviced at its historic boatyards.

 

Merrill-Stevens Yachts, in operation on the River since 1923, will soon break ground on a $55 million expansion, with a marine vocational school which will train 350 additional employees.

 

In addition, more international shipping terminals are opening, and larger shipping vessels have been acquired to operate on a dredged Miami River.

 

However, time is of the essence as the existing contract on the project is set to expire next year. A renegotiation of the existing contract could lead to unnecessary delays and additional costs for materials. This is why it is critical that we come together, yet again, to identify all available sources of funding in order to finish this project under the existing contract.

 

On the Federal level, I am working hard to ensure that the $10.8 million allotted for the River in the President’s FY2009 Budget request is fully funded by Congress.  However, as you all know, the Congressional Appropriations process takes time.

 

That is why I have called upon the Army Corps of Engineers to provide advanced funding for this project, in order to avoid future demobilizations resulting from the re-negotiation of the current contract.  Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works John Paul Woodley is committed to finishing this project, and I look forward to working with the Corps and our state and local partners to complete this project in the near term.