In a clear sign that Congress is willing to cut government waste, an amendment  sponsored by U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) that would prohibit funding for the redundant $25 million Missouri River Authorized Purposes Study (MRAPS) was approved as part of the federal budget for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011.

“I am extremely pleased that my amendment was included in the budget. This language reflects my commitment to save taxpayer dollars by slashing wasteful government spending for unnecessary programs like this redundant river study,” Luetkemeyer said.

Luetkemeyer’s amendment ends federal funding for MRAPS because it repeats work completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers just seven years ago on a comprehensive, 17-year, $35 million study of the Missouri River’s authorized purposes. Seven million dollars has already been spent on MRAPS. Earlier this year, Luetkemeyer and 14 of his congressional colleagues sent a letter to House and Senate appropriators seeking to halt any additional funding for this repetitive study.

For river communities, few issues are as important as water supply, power, and navigation. MRAPS puts in jeopardy the flow of the Missouri and lower Mississippi Rivers, which could have devastating consequences for navigation and transportation along both rivers, resulting in barriers for agriculture, waterways operators, and every product that depends on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers to get to market. The current authorized uses of the Missouri River provide necessary resources and translate to continued economic stability not only for Missourians, but also for many Americans living throughout the Missouri and lower Mississippi River basins.

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