May 18, 2018 - On May 16th, the House Appropriations Committee approved the FY19 Energy & Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The bill totals $44.7 billion in funding – which is a $1.5 billion above the FY18 enacted level and $8.17 above the President’s budget and contains language repealing an Obama-era regulation that defines which waters and wetlands fall under Clean Water Act Provisions – the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.
During the voting process, Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Ranking Member of the House Energy & Water Development Subcommittee offered an amendment to remove eight policy provisions from the bill including one that would rescind the WOTUS rule, which failed in a roll call vote of 30-19. (Bloomberg BNA, 5/16/18)
The legislation also includes funding for the Army Corps of Engineers ($7.28 billion), an increase of $451 million over the FY18 enacted level—and includes an effort to help increase the functionality of our ports and waterways. This includes $1.6 billion from the Harbor Maintenance Trust fund and full use of estimated annual revenues from the Inland Waterway Trust.
