Sen. Wicker Joins Secretary Driscoll, Assistant Secretary Telle in Vicksburg, MS

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., joined Secretary of the Army, Dan Driscoll, and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recently announced a new set of initiatives that will shift its focus back to core Civil Works Missions: to direct more resources to the efficient completion of vital projects and programs, reduce bureaucratic red tape, and produce better results for the American people.

"The federal government can be more efficient even as we protect America's great natural resources. The Engineer Research and Development Center is at the forefront of military modernization and delivers real solutions to our most complicated problems. The Department of Defense is using ERDC as an innovation hub. And there is more to come. We are expanding research, investing in public-private partnerships, and accelerating production.

For too long, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has allowed bureaucracy and red tape to dictate its processes. Under the leadership of Assistant Secretary for the Army (Civil Works) Adam Telle, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will now begin to focus on project completion and working efficiently for taxpayers and job creators. Through these new requirements, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will deliver safer and more efficient results while increasing transparency. Our national security and infrastructure will be more secure thanks to these much-needed updates. I thank Secretary Driscoll and Assistant Secretary Telle for their leadership. Mississippi will continue to spearhead innovation for U.S. defense systems. "

Background:

1. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) conducts research and development in support of the soldier, military installations, and the Corps of Engineers' civil works mission, as well as for other federal agencies, state, and municipal authorities, and with U.S. industries through innovative work agreements.
2. ERDC helps solve our nation's most challenging problems in civil and military engineering, geospatial sciences, water resources, and environmental sciences for the Army, Department of Defense, civilian agencies, and our nation's public good.
3. The "Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork" initiative will sharpen and accelerate the ability of the USACE Vicksburg District to execute its inland navigation, flood risk management, hydropower, and regulatory missions with greater speed and accountability. This includes advancing the Mississippi River and Tributaries Project, which protects communities, supports navigation, and promotes environmental stewardship across the region.
4. The Vicksburg District, strategically located on the Mississippi River, is at the center of one of the nation's most vital transportation networks. Specifically, the Port of Vicksburg is home to the District's dredging and revetment fleets, as well as several large maritime businesses and industry training centers, and serves as an innovation hub for the navigation industry.
5. In addition, the initiative will enhance flood risk management efforts to better protect communities, agricultural lands, and economic development throughout the Mississippi Valley from impacts of flooding, while maintaining rigorous engineering and levee safety standards. The district's regulatory program will also benefit from more streamlined processes, improving service to regional stakeholders and partners.

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