Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Steve King today announced he has secured a total of $25 million for area water projects. The U.S. House of Representatives last night passed the Fiscal Year 2005 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, which includes $15 million for Lewis and Clark Rural Water System and $10 million for the Perry Creek Flood Control Project.

King worked closely with Rep. Hobson (R-OH), Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, to double the earmark for the project to $15 million, which originally was designated $7 million by the Committee. Pending approval by the Senate, the earmark designates $15 million for Lewis and Clark to provide safe, reliable drinking water to approximately 200,000 people and 21 communities in the region. Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota face regional water problems, including shallow wells, aquifers prone to contamination, compliance with new federal drinking water standards, and increasing water demand.

“Adequate funding for rural water projects like Lewis and Clark is extremely important to the health and well-being and economic future of our area,” said King. “It’s important to keep this project on schedule in order to provide the much-needed water source to area communities as soon as possible and promote economic growth for years to come.”

King also pushed for a $10 million earmark for the Perry Creek Flood Control project to control catastrophic flooding that has occurred through the center of Sioux City. The funds are needed to complete the phase of the project that will remove the threat of flooding for 457 businesses and 1,025 homes in the flood plain affected by Perry Creek. In addition, the completed project will eliminate the flood insurance need for almost 80% of the properties and significantly reduce the need for the rest.

“Sioux City cannot afford another catastrophic flood like we have endured in the past,” said King. “The completion of this project is crucial to protect our homes and businesses, and to finally lower the burden of high flood insurance.”