Corps of Engineers - Civil Works Budget Update

As Congress continues to debate funding levels for FY 2011 and beyond, there have been several developments in the debate over the future of the Civil Works Program. The House Transportation & Infrastructure Water Resources & Environment Subcommittee and the House Energy & Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee held hearings last week on Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works funding in the FY2012 Administration budget request. The House Water Resources Subcommittee hearing was held on March 15, chaired by Congressman Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio), was attended by approximately a third of the Subcommittee members.  Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Jo-Ellen Darcy and Lieutenant General Robert L. Van Antwerp, Chief of Engineers, testified on behalf of the Corps of Engineers.  Committee members challenged the Corps over dredging problems on the Lower Mississippi River, use of the Inland Waterways Trust Fund and the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, “404 permit” problems, and regulatory oversight.  On March 16, the House Energy & Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired by Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.), held a budget hear with Secretary Darcy and LTG Van Antwerp testifying. During that hearing they faced most of the same issues raised in the earlier House Water Resources Subcommittee hearing. Finally, the staff of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has indicated that the committee may hold a hearing on a new Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) in April or May.  Also, the Committee’s ranking member, Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), and Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) appear to have reached an accommodation on “earmarks,” and would allow Senate consideration of specific earmark requests if they are first considered and approved by Senate authorization committees. AGC will continue working with House and Senate leaders to ensure a well-funded Civil Works program and regularly enacted Water Resources Development Act. For more information, contact Marco Giamberardino at (703) 837-5325 or giamberm@agc.org.