VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EVcwzpYJ20&feature=youtu.be
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall pressed Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, chief of engineers and commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to commit to ensuring that the necessary infrastructure is in place to protect the Columbus Port of Entry from reoccurring flooding. Earlier this year, Udall joined a groundbreaking ceremony for an $86 million expansion of the Port of Entry Complex. Diversion berms to protect the port from flooding was the Albuquerque District office’s top priority for the Army Corps’ Fiscal Year 2017 work plan, but the project is still waiting on funding.
“The federal government is investing $86 million to modernize this facility to make sure Customs and Border Protection has the necessary facilities to fulfill its mission of keeping America’s borders safe and secure — while facilitating significant increases in the number of daily crossings, due to increased commercial and agricultural trade and private vehicle and pedestrian traffic,” Udall said. “Unfortunately, the Columbus Port of Entry has been subject to reoccurring flooding over the years. In order to sufficiently protect the port of entry, we need to build diversion berms. … yet the project did not receive any funding to build the berms."
Udall was instrumental in securing the $85.6 million in federal funding to build the new and expanded port of entry. He asked Semonite, "Will you commit to work with me in this budget cycle to make sure that we’re not leaving an $86 million dollar federal investment in our national security infrastructure unprotected from flooding in the Village of Columbus, New Mexico?”
Semonite committed to work with Udall to find an answer for why funding has yet to be allocated. After the hearing, Udall pledged to keep pushing the Army Corps of Engineers to ensure that the federal government is responsive to the needs of the village of Columbus: “The Columbus Port of Entry is vitally important to trade, economic development and security for the nation and for Southwest New Mexico. I will continue to press the Army Corps of Engineers to make sure that critical infrastructure needs are met to protect and maintain this essential investment in our national security infrastructure.”
Udall also secured a commitment from Bureau of Reclamation Deputy Commissioner Alan Mikkelsen that the bureau will support the request from the Albuquerque District for $2 million for a voluntary water leasing program on the Middle Rio Grande. “A big priority of mine has been to support a voluntary water leasing program on the Middle Rio Grande -- something that is supported by the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, the bureau, Audubon and other stakeholders -- in order to make this water system function more efficiently for all users,” Udall said. "The bureau is very supportive of allocating $2 million of its FY17 operating money to this critical program to lease water with this funding to restore system function."
Finally, Udall got a pledge from Mikkelsen that he will work with Udall to ensure that drought funding for FY17 addresses the needs of New Mexicans. "New Mexico feels the impacts of climate change and drought at almost twice the rate of other states, with every degree of warming elsewhere producing nearly two degrees of warming in the desert Southwest,” Udall said. "Yet when you look at the list of investments the Bureau of Reclamation makes in drought, the state of New Mexico is conspicuously absent, despite the pressing need.” Mikkelsen promised to Udall that he will work to deliver the funding and resources that New Mexico needs to combat drought.
