Washington -- Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today lambasted President Bush for vetoing the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The measure would have authorized more than $480 million in federal funds for Army Corps of Engineers projects in New Jersey. Congress is reported to have enough votes to override the President's veto and is likely to schedule another vote on the bill as early as next week.
"This bill would improve public safety, restore our coastline, clean our waterways and help protect New Jersey communities from flooding," said Sen. Lautenberg who, as a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, helped author the bill and ushered it through the Senate and in Conference with the House. "The President is spending $3 billion each week in Iraq, yet is unwilling to fund vital projects like these here at home. The President needs to support America's water resources. I look forward to overriding the President's irresponsible veto as soon as possible."
Sen. Menendez said, "What this bill invests in protecting New Jersey's coastline, keeping our rivers clean and protecting our homes from flooding, George Bush spends in Iraq in about 1 1/2 days. Especially considering the extreme droughts all over the country, the President's veto shows he is willing to watch America dry up in order to keep funding his failed war in the desert."
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