Congress passes WRDA with inland waterways cost-share adjustment

Oip

(WASHINGTON) — As part of an omnibus appropriations and COVID-19 relief funding package, the House and Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020 on Monday, marking a historic win for the inland waterways.

The package included the top priority of the Waterways Council Inc. (WCI) to adjust the cost-share for construction and major rehabilitation of inland waterways projects from 50 percent Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF)/50 percent general revenues to 35 percent IWTF/65 percent general revenues for fiscal year (FY) 2021 through FY 2031. Projects whose construction starts between FY 2021-FY 2031 will operate under the adjusted 35/65 cost-share for the duration.

Particularly in a difficult COVID-19 environment, the passage of WRDA is a significant achievement for efficient modernization of the inland waterways system, potentially providing more than $1 billion in additional construction funds over 10 years that should help significantly reduce the backlog of authorized projects.

The WRDA bill also included a cost-limit increase for Kentucky Lock and a chief’s report authorization for the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway-Brazos River floodgates and Colorado locks. The cost-limit increase allows work on Kentucky Lock to continue to completion. The chief’s report allows construction of new sector gates and channel widening to provide for more safe and efficient navigation, and also helps with water and sediment management capabilities on the Brazos River.

WRDA 2020 was a rider to the omnibus appropriations bill that included $900 billion for COVID-19 related funding. The omnibus also included the FY 2021 Energy & Water Development (E&WD) appropriations bill that funds the Army Corps of Engineers.

Other funding measures in the bill:

• FY 21 funding for the Corps is $7.8 billion, an increase of $145 million above the FY 20 level and $1.8 billion above the administration’s FY 21 budget.

• Funding for the investigations account is $153 million, an increase of $2 million above FY 20’s level and $50.4 million above the administration’s request.

• The construction account received $2.69 billion, an increase of $11.6 million above FY 20’s funding level and $519.4 million above the FY 21 administration’s request.

• With $113 million appropriated from the IWTF, a construction program of just under $323 million will be provided for FY 21. This allows funding of Chickamauga Lock to completion and efficient funding for Kentucky Lock.

• The FY 21 funding measure provides for nine new study starts and seven total new construction starts across the Corps’ Civil Works mission. For the first time since 2004, one of the new starts must be for inland waterways lock and dam modernization. The Corps’ FY 21 work plan, typically released 60 days after enactment of the appropriations bill, will detail which project will be selected for the new start.

• Operations and maintenance received $3.85 billion, an increase of $59.7 million above FY 20’s appropriated amount and $1.8 billion above the FY21 administration’s budget.

Also of note is the rejection of any additional and onerous taxes or fees on commercial operators to supplement existing revenue streams.

For strong leadership on the WRDA bill, WCI expressed its thanks to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio and ranking member Sam Graves, and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman John Barrasso and ranking member Tom Carper.

WCI also offered thanks to Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby and ranking member Patrick Leahy, and House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey and ranking member Kay Granger for their efforts to pass the FY 21 omnibus appropriations package that included the E&WD bill.

“Despite the many challenges of this year, WCI is very grateful that Congress passed WRDA 2020 with WCI’s top priority to adjust the construction cost-share, and provided strong FY 21 funding for the Corps of Engineers,” said Tracy Zea, WCI president and CEO. “This is a win for the nation, our economy, and shippers and exporters. An efficient, modern inland waterways system facilitates U.S. competitiveness in world markets, and this bill’s passage will strengthen our ability to stay on top.”

The funding package is headed to the White House for the president’s signature.

– Waterways Council Inc.

Oip
Mississippi History Now photo

 

By Professional Mariner Staff