House Removes
On May 15, the House Appropriations Committee
approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2002 Emergency
Supplemental Appropriations Bill, which includes $128 million for the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers to help improve security at Corps' facilities.
Draft report language considered by the Committee suggested the requirement of unspecified "barge
monitoring systems" as a possible use for the supplemental Corps' funds. AWO and others immediately questioned the language since no
prior notice had been given about its inclusion in the Committee report. Subsequently,
Congressman David Vitter (R-LA) offered an
amendment in Committee to strike the "barge monitoring systems" language. The amendment passed and the language was dropped prior to floor
consideration of the bill. The FY 2002 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill passed the House
on May 24.
Source: AWO Newsletter