Congressman Chuck Fleischmann said he questioned the Obama Administration’s funding priorities for the Chickamauga Lock at a Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment hearing. Testifying at the hearing was Major General Merdith Temple, Acting Chief of Engineers for the Army Corps of Engineers, and Jo Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.
Rep. Fleishmann said, “President Obama’s 2013 budget has zeroed out funding for the Chickamauga Lock, which is completely unacceptable. The Chickamauga Lock is a vital piece of infrastructure to our region, with many important businesses dependent on it. Having raised awareness among my colleagues, we can now work to ensure that the Chickamauga Lock receives the attention and support that it needs."
“I have concerns that failing to address vital infrastructure projects like the Chickamauga Lock would be catastrophic to our nation’s system of ports and inland waterways. The economic importance of our system cannot be underestimated as our maritime trade industry creates almost $2 trillion of commerce annually and provides 13 million jobs in America,” Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-Oh.) said. "At a time when our nation’s unemployment rate is over 8%, failure to repair projects like Chickamauga Lock could result in lost economic opportunity and lost jobs. I look forward to working with Rep. Fleischmann on addressing the infrastructure needs of his district.”
The Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment is the part of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee with jurisdiction over the lock. Rep. Gibbs is the chairman of the Subcommittee. Rep. Fleischmann’s questioning on the Chickamauga Lock follows a recent visit to the lock by Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), a high profile member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.