Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Strong Fy ’18 Funding
for Corps of Engineers with Full-Use Of Estimated Inland Waterways
Trust Fund Annual Revenues
Waterways Council news release
21 July 2017
Washington, DC – Yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Committee,
led by Chairman Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Vice Chairman Patrick
Leahy (D-VT), approved the FY 2018 Energy & Water Development
(E&WD), and Related Agencies appropriations bill,
significantly increasing funding in Fiscal Year 2018 for the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works Program above the
Administration’s budget proposal for FY18.
The Corps’ overall funding level in the Senate bill is $6.2
billion, $190 million above the FY2017 enacted level and $1.2
billion above the President’s budget request. The bill:
* Provides full-use of estimated annual revenues
from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF) for the fourth
consecutive year that could fund priority projects if the
Administration allocates funding in the Corps’ FY18 work
plan. The President’s FY18 budget requested appropriations
only for Olmsted at $175 million, the same level as the Senate.
* Allocates a record $3.481 billion to
Operations & Maintenance, which is $381.475 million more than
the President’s FY18 budget request
* Provides $1.703 billion, plus a rescission of
$35 million from prior years, to the Construction account, which
is $648.150 million more than the President’s FY18 request
* Allocates $113.465 million to the
Investigations account, which is $27.465 more than the resident’s
FY18 request
* Hits the WRDA-set Harbor Maintenance Trust
Fund target again at $1.34 billion
* Provides $700 million above the President’s
budget request for construction of river and harbor, flood storm
damage reduction, shore protection, aquatic ecosystem restoration,
and related projects authorized by law
* Allocates $375 million to Mississippi River
& Tributaries (MR&T), which is $122 million more than the
President’s FY18 budget request
WCI President Michael J. Toohey offered thanks to Senate
Appropriations Committee leaders and to Senate E&WD
Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and
Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) for their strong
bi-partisan work.
“Restoring the 17% cut to the Corps’ FY 18 budget as proposed by
the Administration in its budget request, and proposing full-use
of the Inland Waterways Trust Fund annual revenues, benefits
American consumers and workers -- farmers, steel producers,
manufacturers and transporters,” Toohey said.
Waterways Council, Inc. is the national public policy organization
advocating for a modern and well-maintained national system of
ports and inland waterways. The group is supported by
waterways carriers, shippers, port authorities, agriculture, labor
and conservation organizations, shipping associations and
waterways advocacy groups from all regions of the country.
Visit http://www.waterwayscouncil.org