Posted on July 22, 2021
The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has marked up the US. Army Corps of Engineer Funding for FY 22 at $ 8.66 billion. Included in that is money for the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program or NESP at $22.5 million. Waterways Council’s Director of Government Relations Dustin Davidson says the funding in NESP will help with lock and dam upgrades impacting Northern Plains Producers.
He says funding approved by the House Appropriations Committee for FY 22 FOR the Corps represents an increase of $863 million above the FY 21 appropriated level., and $1.9 billion above the President’s FY 22 budget request.
Davidson says those dams and locks need upgrades in order for farmers to ship their commodities out to important export markets.
Davidson thinks there’s a good chance the full House will follow through with this measure and is hopeful the Senate will follow suit.