{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/congresswoman-barbara-lee-applauds-house-passage-of-port-of-oakland-funding-bill", "CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE APPLAUDS HOUSE PASSAGE OF PORT OF OAKLAND FUNDING BILL", "2001-10-31", "2001", "2001-10", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Barbara Lee", "L000551", "lee.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "10.31.01\n\t\t\t CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE APPLAUDS HOUSE PASSAGE OF PORT OF OAKLAND FUNDING BILL \n\t\t\tWashington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee today applauded House passage of H.R.2311, the Energy and Water\r\n   Appropriations conference report for FY02, which provides $25 million for projects at the Port of Oakland, including two 1999\r\nArmy Corps of Engineers projects: the Port of Oakland -50 foot dredging, and the wetlands restoration project at the former\r\nHamilton Army Airfield. The House passed H.R. 2311 by a vote of 399-29; and it is now\r\nawaiting action in the Senate. The Hamilton wetlands restoration\r\nproject received $4.5 million, and the Port of Oakland received $10\r\nmillion for the 50 foot dredging project, as well as $10.127\r\nmillion for channel maintenance dredging. Funding for the dredging\r\nproject is the underpinning of the largest maritime expansion\r\nin the history of the Port of Oakland. The continued project will\r\ncreate 8,000 jobs and generate millions in commercial and\r\ngovernment revenue. \"The economic vitality of the region, and the nation, are\r\ndependent on the effective and reliable dredging of Northern\r\nCalifornia's\r\nport facilities,\" said Lee. \"The Port of Oakland dredging project will\r\nalso create thousands of direct and indirect jobs. This is\r\nespecially crucial during this downturn in the economy.\" \"Congresswoman Barbara Lee showed tremendous leadership and skill in steering our funding request through the  \r\n   appropriations process. In what has been an undoubtedly difficult period in Washington, Representative Lee has remained  \r\ndiligent in her pursuit of this very necessary funding for the\r\nproject,\" said Tay Yoshitani, Executive Director, Port of Oakland. \"As\r\na result of her efforts, the Port of Oakland is able to move further\r\ntoward completion of this essential economic development and\r\nenvironmental restoration project. This project will bring important\r\neconomic stimulus and environmental enhancement to our\r\nregion.\" The Army Corps of Engineers, working with State Coastal Conservancy as a local sponsor, would utilize dredge material to  \r\nrestore the former Hamilton Army Airfield property to a tidal marsh.\r\nThis is a key element of the federal-state partnership known\r\nas the Long Term Management Strategy for dredge material disposal. \"The project is truly one instance in which we can help improve the local and national economy, while being environmentally  \r\nresponsible at the same time,\" said Lee. \"Using the material from the\r\ndredging project to restore the tidal marsh at Hamilton will\r\nlead to critical habitat restoration and provide a proper balance of\r\ngrowth and environmental protection.\" Congresswoman Lee thanked her colleagues in the House for demonstrating leadership by passing H.R.2311 in support of this\r\nlandmark project, and urged the Senate to pass the bill. Congresswoman Lee expressed her hope that President Bush will sign\r\nthe bill, and also her appreciation to the many organizations that worked to secure this funding, including the Port of Oakland,\r\nlocal environmentalists, the AFL-CIO, Army Corps of Engineers, leaders in the shipping industry and the local business\r\ncommunity.\r\n###\r\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/congresswoman-barbara-lee-applauds-house-passage-of-port-of-oakland-funding-bill"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.522891853004694, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}