Image: Architect of the Capitol
The Waterways Council reviews that the House Committee on Appropriations has authorised, by a vote of 34-24, the FY 2024 Energy and Water Development (E&W) Appropriations Bill. Included within the invoice are Community Project Funding (CPF) requests for Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF) development initiatives.
- Overall proposed funding for Corps’ Civil Works is $9.57 billion, a rise of $910 million above FY23’s appropriated stage, and $2.16 billion above the administration’s FY24 funds request.
- FY24 funding for development initiatives on the inland waterways is $455.97 million, with $159.6 million from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, which is a big enhance from the FY24 funds request of $0. The IWTF development initiatives included are the next:
- Chickamauga Lock (Tennessee River): $236.8 million
- Lower Monongahela (Monongahela River, PA): $41 million
- McClellan–Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS) Three Rivers (AR): $103.17 million
- Navigation & Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP), Navigation Portion (IL): $75 million
- The Corps’ Investigations account funding is $136.09 million, a lower of $36.4 million from the FY23 enacted stage and $6.25 million above the FY24 request. WCI secured an investigations request via the CPF course of.
- Bayou Sorrel Lock Replacement Study (LA): $800,000
- Funding for Operations and Maintenance (O&M) is $5.50 billion, a rise of $418.12 million above FY23 and $1.19 billion above the administration request.
“WCI is grateful to the House Appropriations Committee and the Energy & Water Development Subcommittee for increasing funding from $0 in the President’s budget request for construction of inland waterways priority projects to $456 million,” stated Tracy Zea, President/CEO of Waterways Council, Inc. in feedback on the improved inland waterways funding. “This will continue critical modernization on the nation’s inland waterways, a vital part of our transportation supply chain.”
