Page 20: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 2020)

INSIghtS: WaterWayS CouNCIL, INC.

2020 yearbook

Advocating for

Inland Waterway Funding

By Deb Calhoun aterways Council, Inc. (WCI) is the national pub- expected revenues into the IWTF. WCI also urges an increase lic policy organization that advocates for a mod- in overall Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works Program Operations ern, effcient inland waterways system. Abid- & Maintenance (O&M) funding (FY20 funding for O&M was

Wing by our mission has meant success over our $3.79 billion).

17-year history. In 2020, WCI’s top priority is to conform the In February, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its cost-share for Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF)-fnanced FY20 work plan, which allocates funds provided in the FY20 construction projects to require 25% of the project cost be de- Energy & Water Development Appropriations bill toward its rived from the IWTF and the remaining 75% from General civil works mission.

Revenues. The policy vehicle for this adjustment is the Water Included in the FY20 work plan was $4.5 million for the

Resources Development Act (WRDA), which the Senate this Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) that year is calling the America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) spans the Upper Mississippi River and the Illinois Waterway of 2020. This cost-share adjustment tracks the same formula System across Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Wiscon- used for the construction of the majority of the nation’s coastal sin. This funding is for the continuation of the preconstruction ports (with depths between 20-50 feet) that was changed in engineering and design (PED) phase of the program that both

WRDA 2016 legislation. modernizes locks and addresses ecosystem and sustainability

In fact, on May 7, the Senate Environment & Public Works ($3 million in PED funds were approved for navigation and (EPW) Committee marked up and passed by a 21-0 roll call $1.5 million for the environmental restoration component of the AWIA (WRDA). The EPW Committee’s bill, reported to NESP). This is the frst allocation of PED funds for NESP the Senate, included WCI’s priority to adjust the cost-share since 2012.

for construction and major rehabilitation of inland waterways FY20 funding from the Construction account ($336.76 mil- projects. The Senate EPW Committee’s provision to adjust lion) -- representing more than effcient construction funding the cost-share from 50% from Inland Waterways Trust Fund – was allocated for the following priority navigation projects: (IWTF)/50% General Revenues to 35% IWTF/65% General • Olmsted: $63 million to complete the project

Revenues (in Section 1069 of the bill) is a signifcant step to- • Lower Mon 2, 3, 4 Project: $111 million to complete ward ensuring inland waterways construction and major reha- the project bilitation projects advance more effciently. • Chickamauga: $101.7 million

In the House, at press time, the Transportation & Infrastruc- • Kentucky Lock: $61.06 million ture (T&I) Committee received Members’ WRDA priorities on Also of note, $85.35 million was allocated to initiate con-

May 1 and is starting the process of drafting its bill. House struction of the deepening of the Mississippi River Ship Chan- markup of the bill is expected sometime in June or July. WCI nel, Gulf to Baton Rouge (Louisiana) to 50 feet.

continues to urge that the House include the 75%/25% cost- And besides NESP, the Investigations account will also fund share adjustment. An April “Dear Colleague” letter led by Rep. these projects of particular importance to WCI:

Conor Lamb (D-PA) and Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX) sent to the • $6.05 million to continue PED for the Three Rivers

House T&I Committee garnered 78 signatures in support of Project (Arkansas) this cost-share provision. Several other Members of the House • $7.7 million to continue PED for the Upper Ohio have indicated their individual requests to T&I included this River Navigation Study (Ohio/Pennsylvania) cost-share provision. WCI continues to oppose additional tolling, lockage fees or

Beyond WCI’s focus on the cost-share adjustment in WRDA, adverse charges for the users of the inland waterways system annual appropriations remain a top priority. In 2020, we are imposed by Congress or the Administration. As a reminder, focused on Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 appropriations with a goal in 2014 inland waterways commercial users, led by WCI, suc- to provide for the construction of inland waterways moderniza- cessfully advocated to raise its diesel fuel tax from 20-cents- tion projects at the maximum funding amount supportable by per gallon to 29-cents-per-gallon, a 45% increase, as a way to 20 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • June 2020