On April 2, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Commanding General Thomas Bostick and Assistant Secretary of the Army—Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy defended President Obama’s proposed nearly $1 billion cut to the Civil Works funding accounts in fiscal year (FY) 2015 before the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. Compared to the enacted FY 2014 funding levels for Civil Works programs, the president’s FY 2015 budget includes a $531 million cut to the construction account, a $261 million cut to the operation and maintenance account—which funds dredging and harbor maintenance projects—and a $62 million cut to the Mississippi River and Tributaries account—which funds construction and dredging projects in the lower Mississippi region.
In a , ѻý reminded members of Congress that a time when much of the nation’s water resources infrastructure has exceeded its design-life, is not adequately prepared for natural disasters, or is simply under-maintained, the president’s proposed cuts are irresponsible and Congress must oppose them. ѻý additionally urged Congress to not miss the tremendous opportunity to complete the legislative process and pass a final Water Resources Reform and Development Act and prevent the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) over-reach through the regulation process on the definition of “waters of the U.S” in the Clean Water Act. ѻý has been and the .
ѻý will continue to oppose these senseless and irresponsible cuts to the Civil Works programs, to push for enactment of a final WRRDA bill, and advocate against EPA’s proposed expansion of jurisdiction over more waters in the U.S.
For more information, please contact Jimmy Christianson at (703) 837-5325 or christiansonj@agc.org.