Senators Introduce Corps Reform Act

Senators Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) introduced S.573, the Corps of Engineers Reform Act of 2011, on March 14. The legislation converts the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund into a state-administered grant program with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) doling out funding locally under general Corps oversight. Under the reforms, project spending decisions would be made by state officials making the program locally run and without the possibility of congressional earmarks. Title I of the bill would establish a Harbor Maintenance Block Grant program for states to explicitly use to carry out operations and maintenance, investigations, site infrastructure improvements, and new construction of projects pertaining to harbor maintenance or deepening.  Title II creates a new system for water resources projects to be prioritized for funding from USACE. It establishes a non-paid eleven- person panel, the Water Resources Commission, to prioritize water resources projects for selection. If the legislation were to pass, it would greatly alter the way USACE selects and funds projects pertaining to harbor maintenance and water resources. Instead of relying on direction from Congress, selections would be based on the recommendations of the newly established Water Resources Commission. AGC has long advocated for ensuring all funds collected for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are spent out to rebuild and improve our ports and waterways. AGC has also met with Senator DeMint’s office to hear his perspective on the legislation, and we are currently analyzing its effect for contractors who perform Civil Works projects for USACE. For more information contact Marco Giamberardino at (703) 837-5325 or giamberm@agc.org.