This letter was sent April 11, 2014:
Dear Chairman Feinstein and Ranking Member Alexander:
On behalf of the members of the National Waterways Conference, Inc., I am writing to express our concerns about the Administration’s FY15 budget for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works program.
As this committee well knows, reliable, well-maintained water resources infrastructure is fundamental to America’s economic and environmental well-being, and is essential to maintaining our nation’s competitive position within the global economy. Our water resources infrastructure provides life-saving flood control, needed water supplies, shore protection, water-based recreation, environmental restoration, and hydropower production. Moreover, waterways transportation is the safest, most energy-efficient and environmentally sound mode of transportation.
The President’s budget for fiscal year 2015 would fund the Civil Works program at a level nearly $1 billion less than the Congress appropriated for the current fiscal year. This request, contrary to the priorities set forth by the Congress in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, fails to recognize the critical role of our nation’s water resources infrastructure to a robust economy, job creation, public safety and environmental well-being.
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