In the News

HOUSE PASSES FY24

APPROPRIATIONS BILL TO FUND CORPS OF ENGINEERS’

CIVIL WORKS PROGRAM

AVOIDS GRAVE SETBACKS TO INLAND WATERWAYS’

CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM

Today the House, with the Senate expected to follow, passed a $435 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 appropriations package of six bills that included Energy & Water Development (E&WD), funding the Army Corps of Engineers through September 30, 2024.

Passage of the FY24 E&WD appropriations bill was the top priority for WCI this year and avoids a catastrophic setback to the inland waterways’ construction program that would have occurred if Congress enacted a full-year Continuing Resolution (CR). Under a full-year CR, the most funding that inland waterways construction projects could receive is $59.3 million, nearly $400 million below what is included in this bill.

The Corps of Engineers will receive $8.68 billion, an increase of $1.27 billion from the FY24 President’s budget request.

For the FY24 Construction account, $1.85 billion was appropriated, a decrease of $170 million from the FY24 President’s budget request.

Inland Waterways construction projects received a record amount of funding at $456 million, with at least $120 million coming from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, which supposedly will fund three of the six active construction projects to completion. The following projects were funded:

• Chickamauga Lock - $236.8 million (supposedly funded to completion)
  • Requested by Cong. Fleischmann (TN-03)
• Three Rivers - $103.17 million (supposedly funded to completion)
  • Requested by Cong. Crawford (AR-01)
• Lower Mon - $41 million (supposedly funded to completion)
  • Requested by Cong. Reschenthaler (PA-14), Sens. Capito (WV), and Casey (PA)

• Navigation & Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) - $120 million that will be divided between navigation and ecosystem restoration. The Corps will provide the total amounts and specifics within 60 days when the FY24 workplan is released.
  • Requested by Cong. S. Graves (MO-06), LaHood (IL-16), Luetkemeyer (MO-03), Sorensen (IL-17), and Budzinski (IL-13), Sens. Baldwin (WI), Duckworth (IL), Durbin (IL), Klobuchar (MN), and Smith (MN)

The Investigations account received $132 million, up $1.75 million from the FY24 President's budget request. Specifically, these projects were funded:

• Bayou Sorrel Lock (LA) will receive $800,000
  • Requested by Cong. G. Graves (LA-06)
• Bennett Johnston Waterway (LA) will receive $500,000 (to examine the feasibility of deepening the waterway to 12 feet)
  • Requested by Sen. Cassidy (LA)

Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) - $367 million, which represents a $140 million increase from the President’s FY24 budget request. Some inland waterways projects funded are:

• Channel Improvement funding of $57.9 million was provided for Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee
• Helena Harbor - $580,000
• Baton Rouge Harbor, Devils Swamp - $564,000
• Greenville Harbor - $1.23 million (includes a $300,000 increase above the budget request of $934,000 as requested by Senator Hyde-Smith (MS))
• Vicksburg Harbor - $1.24 million (includes a $300,000 increase above the budget request of $944,000 as requested by Senator Hyde-Smith (MS))
• Memphis Harbor - $2.43 million (same as the President's FY24 request)

The Operations and Maintenance account was allocated $5.55 billion, a $1.24 billion increase from the President’s FY24 request.

The President, who will deliver the State of the Union address tomorrow (March 7), is expected to sign the funding package into law. Six other appropriations bills, Defense among them, are set to expire on March 22.