Inhofe, Mullin Statement on Recent Flooding in Eastern Oklahoma

TULSA — U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and U.S. Congressman Markwayne Mullin (OK-2) released the following statement today regarding recent flooding in Eastern Oklahoma: 

"Our prayers and thoughts are with all those in Eastern Oklahoma who have been impacted by the recent flooding over the Christmas holidays. We have both recently traveled the region to see first-hand the devastation, and have met with GRDA to pinpoint infrastructure issues that have been exposed as a result of the record amount of rainfall and water being released through the dams. We have also been in constant communication with the Army Corps of Engineers, and we are receiving daily updates on river, lake, and navigation conditions. In the new year, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will be putting together a new Water Resources Development Act reauthorization. As this legislation makes its way through both chambers of Congress, we are committed to using this reauthorization to partner with the state and local government to modernize our infrastructure and address the needs that have become visible by recent weather events."

Today, Inhofe participated in a helicopter tour with the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) of the flooding in Eastern Oklahoma to assess the damage and discuss infrastructure needs for the region. 

Mullin joined GRDA on Tuesday to see firsthand the flood conditions across several counties in the Second Congressional District. He is urging Oklahomans to contact his office in Muskogee at 918-687-2533 if they are in need of assistance. His team is ready and eager to help.

On May 22, 2014, Congress passed the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA), of which both Inhofe and Mullin were conferee members. In the bill, they were able to secure provisions to expand the Port of Catoosa, expand local control over principal infrastructure such as McClellan Kerr maintenance, make grant funding available for smaller rural communities for rehabilitating crumbling drinking and wastewater treatment facilities, improve storm water management, and enhance waterway infrastructure and storage facilities, and address local concerns such as redirecting water from industrial to municipal drinking water for Western Oklahoma counties hit by drought.   A full list of the Oklahoma provisions in the bill can be viewed by clicking here. 

Inhofe plans to hold Senate EPW Committee hearings beginning in February on the next WRDA bill.  

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