Following two days of debate and consideration of numerous amendments, the House of Representatives passed, by a vote of 240-177, a $34.5 billion FY16 energy and water spending bill. The measure would fund the Army Corps of Engineers civil works program at $5.6 billion, $182 million higher than current spending levels and $900 million more than the President’s request.
The bill provides $110 million for investigations, $1.631 billion for construction, $275 million for Mississippi River and Tributaries, and $3.094 billion for operation and maintenance. This includes $1.25 billion from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, to hit the WRRDA target, and full expenditure of the revenues from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund.
Drawing a veto threat from the White House, the bill includes a rider to prohibit the Corps from using any funds to implement the “Waters of the U.S.” rulemaking, presently under final review at OMB and expected to be released by the summer. Another amendment, offered by Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-La.) and passed by voice vote, defunds the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard.
Complete details on the bill can be viewed at the Appropriations Committee website here:
http://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=394189