ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 162

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED JUNE 5, 1997

By Assemblyman GUSCIORA, Assemblywoman TURNER, Assemblymen Greenwald, DeSopo, Asselta, Lance and Assemblywoman Wright

An Assembly Resolution memorializing the Congress of the United States to restore the federal government's one-fifth share of funding for the Delaware River Basin Commission and to oppose legislation eliminating the President of the United States' ability to appoint a neutral federal representative to the Commission.

Whereas, The purpose of the Delaware River Basin Commission is to develop and effectuate plans, policies and projects relating to the water resources of the basin; and

Whereas, The Delaware River Basin Commission has five members, one each representing the states of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware and one appointed by the President of the United States to represent the federal government; and

Whereas, The Delaware River Basin Commission acts to reduce controversies and lawsuits among the four states over water supply, water quality and flood control issues and saves the federal government millions of dollars in federal court costs; and

Whereas, The Delaware River Basin Commission receives its funding through contributions from the Commission's five members, however, because the current budget for the federal government allocates no funding for the Delaware River Basin Commission the federal government has not contributed its one-fifth share of funding to the Commission; and

Whereas, The Federal Office of Management and Budget has concluded that as a result of the federal government's failure to provide its share of funding to the commission the federal government's representative cannot vote at the Commission's meetings; and

Whereas, The Delaware River Basin Commission must adopt its budget by July 1, 1997, however, the interstate compact establishing the Commission requires the unanimous approval by the Commission's five members to adopt a budget or declare a drought which it is currently unable to do; and

Whereas, As a cost saving measure, federal legislation has been proposed to limit the President's nominee to the Commission to individuals already on the federal government's payroll; specifically, in a supplementary appropriations bill to pay for the Bosnia peacekeeping mission and disaster relief in western states there is a provision requiring that the federal government's representative to the Commission be a commissioned officer from the United States Army Corps of Engineers; and

Whereas, A neutral federal commissioner is necessary to reconcile the often diverse positions of federal agencies who have programs and policies affecting the Delaware River; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1.    The Congress of the United States is respectfully memorialized to restore the federal government's one-fifth share of funding for the Delaware River Basin Commission and to oppose legislation eliminating the President's ability to appoint a neutral federal representative to the Delaware River Basin Commission.

    2.    Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly, shall be transmitted to the presiding officers of the United States Senate and House of Representatives and the members of the New Jersey Congressional delegation.

STATEMENT

    This Assembly resolution memorializes the Congress of the United States to restore the federal government's one-fifth share of funding for the Delaware River Basin Commission. Absent this funding, the Delaware River Basin Commission cannot declare a drought or adopt its budget. In addition, this resolution memorializes the Congress of the United States to oppose legislation eliminating the President's ability to appoint a neutral federal representative to the Delaware River Basin Commission. A neutral federal representative is necessary to represent the diverse views of the federal agencies involved with the Delaware River.

Memorializes Congress to restore federal funding to the Delaware River Basin Commission and to oppose legislation eliminating the President's ability to appoint a neutral federal representative.