Page 26: of Marine News Magazine (February 2020)

25 27

COLUMN OP/ED 2020 Vision By Michael J. Toohey

The Congress worked hard and most ery completion, drive down ? nal project costs, and deliver importantly together at the end of the bene? ts to the national economy years sooner. recently-concluded First Session in De- The Corps’ Construction account received $2.68 billion cember to ? nalize and pass Fiscal Year or $1.37 billion more than the President’s FY20 request, (FY) 2020 appropriations that includ- and $498 million more than the FY19 enacted level. The ed the Energy & Water Development FY20 bill utilizes full-use of the estimated receipts of the (E&WD) Appropriations bill that funds IWTF plus some additional prior-year revenues to yield a the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ lock and dam modernization investment of approximately (Corps) work on the nations’ waterways. $335 million (more than tripling the President’s FY20

Toohey

By law, 60 days after the President funding request of just $111 million).

signs the E&WD appropriations bill, The Corps’ Operations & Maintenance (O&M) account the Corps must release a Work Plan that shows speci? c received $3.79 billion, which was $1.86 billion above the allocations for funding projects. That FY20 Work Plan President’s FY20 budget request (essentially doubling the should be released around February 10, the day the Presi- amount in the budget request) and which is the seventh con- dent is expected to release his FY21 budget. secutive year of record-level funding for the O&M account.

The FY20 E&WD funding levels the Corps and the Of- Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) projects re- ? ce of Management and Budget (OMB) will be working ceived $1.63 billion, which was an increase of $665 million with as they develop the Work Plan are as follows: above the President’s FY20 request. Congress met and ex-

The Corps’ Civil Works mission received $7.65 billion, ceeded – by more than 11% – the HMTF target set by the $652 million above the FY19 enacted level and $2.69 bil- Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014.

lion or 54% above the OMB’s insuf? cient budget request. Mississippi Rivers and Tributaries (MR&T) received

Congress also agreed to adjust the Construction cost-share $375 million in FY20.

for Chickamauga Lock (Tennessee River) as they did in The Investigations account funding level is $151 mil-

FY19, but in FY20 to 65% General Revenue funding/35% lion, which is $74 million above the FY20 Administration

Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF) for one ? scal year. request (roughly double the Administration request) and

This change enables full and ef? cient funding of all ongo- $26 million above the FY19 enacted level. Included in the ing construction projects which will advance their deliv- President’s budget, as well as the FY20 bill, is Preconstruc-

Credit: Jessica Haas, USACE

February 2020

MN 26