On Wednesday, the House Appropriations Committee approved, by unanimous voice vote, the FY2015 Energy and Water appropriations bill that funds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works program, with record-strong numbers reflecting the impact of policy changes made by the Water Resources Reform Development Act (WRRDA), which ASA strongly supported.

The bill funds the Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works program at $5.4 billion, which is $25 million above FY14 and $959 million above the President's budget request.

In the Construction account, the Committee provided $112 million in additional funding for Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF) projects, plus $85.5 million in undesignated navigation project money reflecting the funding increases from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. The bill’s overall funding level for the Construction account was $1.7 billion, $48.5 million above FY14, and $579.5 million above the Administration’s requested level.

In the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) account, of the $303.4 million in additional funding provided, $45 million is for inland waterways, $150.5 million is for deep-draft harbors and channels, $42.5 million is for small/remote/subsistence projects, and $25.4 million is undesignated. This is the highest O&M funding level to date.  The bill’s overall funding level for the O&M account is $2.9 billion, $44 million above FY14 and $305 million above the Administration’s request.

On the Senate side, however, the Appropriations Committee postponed their scheduled markup of the Energy and Water Appropriations bill, amid controversy over potential amendments related to climate change and Clean Water Act issues. No new mark-up date or plan has been announced as of yet. The House and Senate must pass the FY15 appropriations bills or an extension of FY14 spending by the end of the fiscal year (Oct. 1) to avoid a shutdown.