Perry named to joint select committee on storm-related river debris / damage

Raleigh - Sen. Jim Perry (R - Wayne, Lenoir) has been named as a member of the Joint Select Committee on Storm-Related River Debris / Damage in North Carolina by Senator Phil Berger.

Joint Legislative Oversight Committees are made up of members of the NC Senate and NC House who are personally selected by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.  Committee members serve at the pleasure of the appointing officer of each chamber.

“I am thankful for Senator Berger’s support of our efforts to address these issues in Eastern NC. This Committee assignment is another milestone in our efforts to help the people of Rural North Carolina.”

“This is a big issue for Lenoir and Wayne Counties, and many other counties in the East. Earlier this year, NC House Majority Leader John Bell and I coordinated meetings with Rep. Chris Humphrey, Rep. Lisa Barnes, Rep. Perrin Jones, and Senator Bob Steinburg. We talked with various organizations that focus on these types of problems and sketched out a plan to try to help Eastern NC.

“Near the end of June, we passed legislation to create The Division of Mitigation Services within the Department of Environmental Quality. Part of their purpose is the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, and creation of wetland and riparian resources that contribute to flood prevention.”

Sen. Perry was asked about other steps in the plan, he responded, “We need different results for our people, so we are trying a different approach. We all have families whose lives get turned upside down by flooding. How are those babies supposed to live, learn and play with a foot of water in their homes? We know we can’t stop all of the urban development up river from us, but we can demand some changes to help protect people in the small rural areas.”