05.16.24

Durbin Receives Commitment From Assistant Secretary Of The Army For Civil Works That The Corps Will Prioritize The Brandon Road Project Partnership Agreement Ahead Of The June 30th Deadline

As an advocate of the Brandon Road Project, Durbin continues to push for a path forward in his questioning to Assistant Secretary Connor at a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, received commitment from the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Michael L. Connor that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) is prioritizing the Project Partnership Agreement in regards to the Brandon Road Project ahead of the June 30 deadline.  Failure to sign a Project Partnership Agreement with the Corps will result in further delays and drive up the cost of the overall project, which Durbin emphasized in his remarks during the Subcommittee hearing.  Today, Durbin spoke by phone with Assistant Secretary Connor to expand on yesterday’s hearing, and he looks forward to their continued partnership to resolve this issue

Durbin’s questions in the Subcommittee hearing entitled “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation,” can be found below.

Video of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s question in Committee is available here for TV stations.

The Brandon Road Interbasin Project will construct a new engineered channel at Brandon Road that will be used to test and deploy a range of technologies that will prevent invasive carp from moving further north into the Great Lakes.  In 2022, Durbin secured a provision in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) to increase the federal cost-share for the project, bringing down the cost for Illinois taxpayers.  However, the project cannot begin construction until the State of Illinois signs a Project Partnership Agreement with the Corps.  Referring to the Brandon Road Interbasin Project, Durbin praised U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Gary Peters (D-MI) and Governor Gretchen Whitmer, for their shared commitment in advancing the project.  Durbin and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) worked closely with the State of Michigan to advance this project.

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