U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder, who is the Homeland Security Appropriations chairman, toured the Kansas and Missouri rivers Wednesday morning with the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The trip highlighted Coast Guard safety operations and Corps of Engineers projects in the Kansas City area.
Yoder was accompanied by Mayor David Alvey, as well as members of the Fairfax Drainage District and Kaw Valley Drainage District.
“The Kansas and Missouri Rivers are the lifeblood of our region, and I was pleased to see firsthand the impacts that federal investment in these rivers has on the Kansas City metro area,” Rep. Yoder said. “The levees in Kansas City protect billions of dollars in assets and many lives from disastrous floods. Currently, hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding through the Army Corps of Engineers are being invested in raising and improving these levees, providing safety and peace of mind for the residents and businesses of our community.
“The Missouri River also fills a crucial role in our region’s transportation infrastructure, moving massive amounts of grain from Kansas farmers and helping our producers get their products to market efficiently,” he said. “I would like to thank the Coast Guard and the Corps of Engineers for the insightful tour, and for the outstanding work they do every day to keep our rivers safe from floods and operational for commerce.”
Earlier this year, Unified Government commissioners recognized the importance of federal grants in building up the levees in Kansas City, Kansas.