The Upper Mississippi Waterway Association (UMWA) is applauding the passage of the Energy and Water Development (E&WD) Appropriations Bill by the House Appropriations Committee and calling on the Senate to follow suit.  

The bill includes $9.96 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works mission, a record funding level. The Inland waterways construction and major rehabilitation projects received $423 million in funding in the bill, with at least $148 million coming from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund.  

“The Upper Mississippi Waterway Association applauds the critical funding allocated in the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill,” said Jeremy Putman, president of UMWA. “These investments are essential to maintaining the reliable navigation systems that support millions of jobs and fuels our nation’s economy.” 

The bill also includes $54 million in funding from the Navigation & Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) toward ecosystem restoration efforts, requested by multiple senators, including Minnesota Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith.  

In addition, the Investigations account received $159 million, allocating $100,000 for St. Anthony Falls, Lock and Dam 1 and an additional $50,000 for Upper St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River.  

Funding wasn’t limited to the upper Mississippi. In fact, upon passage the Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) would receive $370 million to fund waterways projects, which include the Baton Rouge, Greenville, Vicksburg and Memphis harbors, along with channel improvement funding for Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.   

With time running short for Congress to pass all 12 appropriations bills before the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, markup of the E&WD appropriations bill in the Senate could be held during the last week of July, or the Senate could also release draft text of the bill, skip a Subcommittee markup and head straight to full Committee markup.   

Congress has until Sept. 30 to pass all 12 appropriations bills before the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. According to Waterways Council, Inc., markup of the E&WD appropriations bill in the Senate could be held during the last week of July, or the Senate could also release draft text of the bill, skip a Subcommittee markup and head straight to full Committee markup.