Press Releases

July 16, 2021 

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE APPROVES STRONG  

FY22 FUNDING FOR CORPS OF ENGINEERS 

NESP RECEIVES $22.5 MILLION COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING 

Today, the House Appropriations Committee approved, by a vote of 33 to 24, funding for the Corps of Engineers for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 (FY22), with overall funding for the Corps’ Civil Works Mission at $8.66 billion, an increase of $863 million above FY21’s appropriated level, and $1.9 billion above the President’s FY22 budget request. 

The Corps’ Investigations account funding received $155 million, $2 million above the FY21 enacted level and $49.2 million above the FY22 budget request.  The Gulf Intracoastal Waterways’ Brazos River Floodgates and Colorado River Locks received $6.93 million in Pre-Construction Engineering & Design (PED) funds for FY22 from this account. 

Funding for the Construction account is $2.6 billion, an increase of $799.4 million above FY22’s budget request. 

The Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF) was allocated $90 million, making the total funding for the inland waterways construction program at least $257 million. The Three Rivers Project on the McClellan Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS) received a new start and $149 million in construction funding, of which $52.2 million is provided from the IWTF. The Committee also approved the list of Community Project Funding items (commonly referred to as earmarks) that included $22.5 million in construction funding for the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP).  

NESP was the most-requested project in the Energy & Water bill.  WCI thanks Representatives Bustos (D-IL), Hinson (R-IA), Graves (R-MO), and Luetkemeyer (R-MO). With a new start for NESP, at least $85.5 million would be eligible for Chickamauga, Kentucky, and Montgomery locks.  Projects and dollar amounts would be decided by the Corps of Engineers in the work plan, traditionally released 60 days after the bill is signed into law.  

Funding for Operations and Maintenance (O&M) is $4.8 billion, an increase of $967.3 million above FY21 and $500 million above the Administration’s request, of which $13 million was provided to finish six inland waterways major rehabilitation studies as follows: $1.5 million for New Cumberland Lock (Ohio River); $2.5 million for Marmet Locks and Dam (Kanawa River); $2.5 million for Greenup Locks and Dam (Ohio River); $2.5 million for Meldahl Lock and Dam (Ohio River); $1.9 million for Kerr Lock and Dam (MKARNS); $1.7 million for Webbers Falls Lock and Dam (MKARNS). 

Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) projects are to receive an estimated $2.05 billion, $370 million above the FY21 enacted level and an increase of $424.1 million above the Administration’s FY22 request.  

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