WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) issued the following statements following the Missouri River Working Group meeting today about the management of the flooded waterway and its affect on Kansans.

“Something unique happened at this meeting – we had a group of 14 bipartisan senators working together around the table on an issue of tremendous importance to the people of our states,” said Roberts. “We began discussions over the mainstem Missouri River, how FEMA is responding to the flooding, and how to insure flood control is the top priority for Army Corps management. Kansans have been watching the river rise hour by hour for more than a month now, and we are working hard to make sure we are doing all we can to help manage the wrath of Mother Nature.”

“I am proud to be part of the bipartisan Missouri River Working Group, which is committed to examining the cause of this year’s flooding throughout the Missouri River basin and engaged in finding solutions for the future,” Sen. Moran said. “Discussions continue about how the Corps is addressing the ongoing emergency situation and how it plans to address future water management in the basin. In the coming months, as the flood waters recede, I look forward to working with my colleagues to identify ways to repair damaged infrastructure and to make sure flood prevention is a priority in future years.”

The Missouri River Working Group is comprised of 14 members from the states where the Missouri River runs, including Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana.

The focus of the meeting was over how the flow of the flooding Missouri River should be managed, since officials in upstream and downstream states on the Missouri are sometimes at odds over it. The group discussed FEMA, flood control and flood insurance issues. They also met with Major General William Grisoli and Brigadier General John McMahon from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to discuss events leading to the flooding, the Corps authorized purposes, and the river forecast through Labor Day.

You can click here for a video statement from Senator Roberts and b-roll of him at the meeting or watch the video below.

Pictured Below: Senators attend the Missouri River Working Group meeting on July 13, 2011

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