A New Year Path

We’re a month into both the new year and the first session of the 118th Congress, and Waterways Council Inc. (WCI) is starting the new year with the first in-person Capitol Hill meetings for WCI members since 2020. A Capitol Hill fly-in is an essential part of our advocacy efforts. There’s no better voice for the issues we work on than constituents traveling from home. Our 2023 key priorities are the blueprint for those discussions with Members of Congress:

• Secure Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Energy and Water Development (E&WD) appropriations for the full amount supportable by annual diesel fuel tax receipts deposited into the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF), and any additional funding need from the balance of the IWTF under the cost-share established in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022;

• Obtain one new construction start as recommended by the Inland Waterways Users Board 2022 annual report;

• Obtain an investigations new start for Bayou Sorrel Lock to begin the 3x3x3 study phase; and

• Oppose additional tolling, lockage fees, or other harmful charges for users of the inland waterways system.

While we’re excited about the start of a new Congress, we began and ended 2022 with momentum to carry us forward. At the close of last year, Congress passed a $1.7 trillion FY23 omnibus appropriations bill to extend funding through September 30 and to avoid a government shutdown when Continuing Resolution monies were to expire. The bill included Corps Civil Works mission funding in the Energy & Water Development section at $8.66 billion, an increase of $62 million from FY22 appro - to $98.6 million, with $34.51 million derived from the IWTF. WCI expressed disappointment that almost $90 million available in collected receipts in 2022 from the IWTF were not utilized. This year, WCI will remain hyper-focused on IWTF receipts and vows to continue to work with the Corps and Congress to ensure that all receipts are utilized annually. priated funding, and $2.06 billion above the President’s FY23 budget request. The annual net economic benefit generated by the Corps’ Civil Works mission is estimated to be $89 billion, which equates to a return of about $12 for every dollar expended, with the amount provided to improve the nation’s water infrastructure at $10.24 billion, according to Senate summaries.

On December 15, the Corps of Engineers – Civil Works legislative vehicle that sets policy, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), (WRDA 2022) passed in the Senate as part of the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a vote of 83-11. The bill passed the House of Representatives on December 8 and was signed into law by the President on December 23.

WRDA 2022, which remained on a biennial schedule in Congress, authorized 33 Chief’s Reports, and included a policy provision that makes permanent the 65% general revenues/35% IWTF cost-share for lock and dam construction and major rehabilitation projects. The 65%/35% was established in WRDA 2020 as the costsharing formula that was set to expire in 2031, at which time the cost-share would return to the former formula of a 50%/50% split between the general fund and IWTF. The 65%/35% ratio would allow IWTF dollars to help finance more projects than under the 50%/50% cost-share.

In addition to removing the cost-share sunset provision, WCI was instrumental in providing flexibility to manage Houston Ship Channel Barge Lanes. Originally authorized at 12 feet, these barge lanes have presented navigational challenges. Through working with both committees and the Corps, WCI successfully included language in WRDA 2022 that will allow the Corps to dredge these channels to a depth deemed safe for navigation.

It is unfortunate that the total of IWTFfunded construction projects amounted

WCI is hitting the ground running with a full plate ahead for the year. Be sure to sign up for our digital advocacy outreach to Congress by texting LOCKS to 313131 and have your voice heard.

TRACY R. ZEA President/CEO, Waterways Council Inc.