This week the House approved the Energy Water Development Appropriations bill which will help pay for improvements to the nation’s inland waterway ag transportation system. Waterways Council Senior Vice President Deb Calhoun says they want the Senate to act on the measure before midnight Friday when the nation’s continuing resolution to fund the government expires.
She says that appropriation measure is critical for upkeep of the nation’s inland waterways system and provides more money than the previous legislation did.
Calhoun says another good move by the House was adjusting the cost share for the Chickamauga lock on the Tennessee river from 50-50 to 65 percent from the general revenue fund and 35 percent from the waterways trust fund. She says by changing that cost share it frees up additional money for more water development projects.
Calhoun says with all the recent unrest on Capital Hill, it’s encouraging that Congress is moving forward needed legislation like the appropriations measures needed for inland waterways.
