President Bush Amends Budget with $15 Million For Channel:
On the banks of the Columbia River on Friday, President George W. Bush announced his decision to amend his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2005 to include $15 million for the Columbia River Channel Improvement Project. The President's announcement represented exciting news for this economically and environmentally important project that will deepen approximately 54% of the navigation channel between the ocean and Portland/Vancouver from 40 to 43 feet.

Many Coalition members joined President Bush for this important announcement at the Port of Portland's Terminal 6.  Special guests included U.S. Senators Patty Murray (WA) and Gordon Smith (OR), U.S. Congressmen George Nethercutt (WA) and Greg Walden (OR), several state legislators and local officials, US. Army Corps of Engineers Brigadier General Don T. Riley (Director of Civil Works), and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works John P. Woodley, Jr. 

After more than 15 years of work developing this project, this announcement marks the first time that a President's budget has included Columbia River channel funding.  Congress has appropriated $10 million for project construction during three of the past four years, but in each case had to amend the President's proposed budget to do so.  With the White House and Congress both firmly supporting this project, we are confident that full federal funding can be expeditiously achieved so the project may be completed by 2007.

Now that the President's proposed budget has been amended to include $15 million, the action returns to Congress.  The Energy and Water Appropriations bill passed by the House of Representatives included $3 million for the channel project and the Senate will resume work on its version of the bill after Labor Day  With Senators Larry Craig (ID) and Patty Murray (WA) on the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, we are confident that the Senate bill will include strong funding.

Thanks to President Bush for coming to our region, for highlighting the importance of Columbia River maritime commerce, and for including $15 million for the channel project in his proposed budget.  Thanks also to all our Coalition partners who have worked so diligently to achieve this result.

Fundamentally, we need a deeper Columbia River navigation channel to successfully attract carriers to transport Northwest cargo around the world.  Much of this cargo, especially agricultural products, is produced with such a small profit margin that it cannot be shipped to Seattle, Tacoma, California, or another port for global transport.  These announcements from "K" Line and Hyundai should remind us that we need a 43-foot channel to attract and retain future carriers -- and to effectively serve Northwest businesses and farmers.

Last Chance to RSVP - August 23, 2004 in Vancouver:
Please join U.S. Senator Patty Murray and Congressman Brian Baird in Vancouver on Monday, August 23, 2004 at 8:00 a.m. at the Port of Vancouver (3103 Lower River Road in Vancouver) to celebrate the recent completion of several key project milestones for the Columbia River Channel Improvement Project.  If you have not yet done so, please RSVP for this free event now by contacting CRCC@ChannelCoalition.com or (503) 285-6343. 

Did you know ?
In 2003, approximately 33 million tons of cargo worth about $15 Billion was transported via the Columbia River, making this river a vibrant economic engine for our region and a valuable part of our nation's transportation system.