On February 24^th, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources held a hearing to review the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) efforts on water resources development projects and the reports that go with them. The USACE is criticized for lengthy processes and projects, including taking decades to complete preliminary feasibility studies.  The USACE defended its record, citing successful projects following Hurricane Katrina and arguing that there are conditions and requirements involved in USACE projects that do not exist for other agencies or businesses.

The USACE was question about its Fiscal Year 2017 budget request, which did not include funding for several projects that are already underway.  The USACE indicated that activity would not halt completely on the projects, but they would see minimal work.  The USACE indicated that the projects do not meet the minimum benefit-to-cost ratio that allows construction to continue. For every dollar spent, the project must generate $2.50.

The ASA continues to support and advocate for increased funding for the USACE for construction and operations & maintenance activities to improve performance and efficiency of the locks and dams on the inland waterways system and progress toward major renovation or the construction of new locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi River System.  Record increases in appropriations have been achieved in the past two years, following the successful enactment of the Water Resources Reform & Development Act of 2014 and an increase in the barge fuel fee that funds the Inland Waterways Trust Fund.