NARRAGANSETT, RI U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced he will seek federal funding to repair the breakwater at Point Judith and will ask the Bush Administration to include the project in next years budget. Reed made the announcement during a boat tour of the structure he led to give officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Coast Guard a firsthand look at the breakwater. The breakwater helps safeguard our shoreline and is important to protecting the fishing fleet and surrounding area from the open ocean. I am concerned about the structural integrity of the breakwater and its ability to withstand a hurricane so I am seeking federal funding to strengthen this vital buffer, said Reed. The breakwater forms a Harbor of Refuge that was originally built in 1890 to provide protection for coastal schooners. Portions of Point Judith Harbor of Refuge breakwater system protect navigation, specifically the West Shore Arm which parallels the channel. However, the main breakwater now serves to protect the shoreline of Narragansett. Today, I got a good look at how portions of the federal breakwater have eroded and fallen into the ocean. Parts of the center breakwater are submerged at high tide, creating a dangerous situation for navigation, said Reed. The breakwater is U.S. government property and the federal government has a responsibility to repair it. It is imperative that the federal government does its part to improve navigational safety and protect the people living near the breakwater. The breakwater has been repaired a number of times over the years, most recently in 1994-95 when repairs were completed on the East Shore Arm Breakwater. In fiscal year 2003, Senator Reed secured $120,000 in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill to survey the breakwater and determine what would be necessary to repair the structure. The survey determined that the main breakwater is not currently at authorized dimensions. The Army Corps of Engineers estimates it will take 81,000 tons of stone to restore the breakwater at a cost of approximately $15 to $20 million. The Army Corps of Engineers tells us that the breakwater is not up to snuff and needs to be fixed, said Reed. Securing funding for this project will be difficult and will take several years, but this is an important issue.