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House and Senate committees approve FY2013 Energy & Water Appropriations bills
The House and Senate Energy and Water Development (E&W) Appropriations Subcommittees and full Appropriations Committees met in April to mark up their FY2013 energy and water appropriations bills.
The House provided a slight increase over the President's budget for the Army Corps' civil works program of $4.8 billion (the President's request was $4.731 billion). The Senate also provided a slight increase over the President's budget for the Corps' Civil Works Program ($5 billion). Following is the breakdown of funding for Corps programs of interest to PNWA members:
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Corps program
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President's
budget
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House
bill
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Senate
bill
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Operations and Maintenance (O&M)
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$2.398 billion
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$2.507 billion
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$2.404 billion
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Construction
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$1.471 billion
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$1.477 billion
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$1.7 billion
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Regulatory
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$205 million
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$190 million
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$199 million
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Investigations
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$102 million
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$102 million
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$125 million
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The House bill provides $1 billion in funding from the HMTF, a substantial increase from previous years. The Senate bill provides $848 million from the HMTF.
Earmarks vs. "Additional funding"
As we saw last year, both bills adhere to the Congressional ban on earmarks, and therefore do not include any funding increases for specific projects. PNWA projects that were specifically funded in the President's budget were kept at the same funding levels in the Senate's bill, while the House bill gave each project a slight "haircut". For PNWA's updated list of projects and their funding amounts, please visit our website.
We are pleased to report that both chambers appear to be continuing the "additional O&M" funding concept that was introduced last year. For the coming fiscal year, the following "additional" amounts are proposed:
House bill:
Harbor and Inland Harbors $189.258 million
(O&M activities eligible for reimbursement from HMTF, including deep draft and small ports)
Other Authorized Project Purposes $11.778 million
(Includes O&M on inland waterways, flood control, hydropower, recreation, water supply, fish & wildlife, etc.)
Note: The report language notes that $30M of these additional funds are specifically reserved for "small, remote, or subsistence harbors and waterways"
Senate bill:
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Navigation Maintenance
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$5 million
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Deep-Draft Harbor and Channel
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$7 million
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Inland Waterways
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$12 million
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Small, Remote, or Subsistence Navigation
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$30 million
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Other Authorized Purposes
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$5 million
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Both bills must now be passed by the full House & Senate, and then to a conference committee to resolve the differences between the two bills. A final, conferenced bill will then require votes in the House and Senate for final passage, then the President's signature.
Small waterways
We are very pleased to report that the House and Senate bills both recognized the needs of small ports. The Senate bill included $30 million in "additional funding" for small, remote or subsistence harbors. This is the same amount that was provided in FY2012. The House bill also noted that $30M of the "additional funding" for navigation shall be dedicated to small waterways. PNWA will strongly advocate for retention of these additional monies as the appropriations process move forward.
Continuing Authorities Program (CAP)
Some funding was requested by the Administration and Congress for the Continuing Authorities Program.
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CAP
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President's
budget
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House
bill
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Senate
bill
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Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration (Section 206)
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$4,034,000
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$4,034,000
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$8,000,000
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Beneficial Use of Dredged Material (Sections 204,207,993)
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$4,995,000
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$3,000,000
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$7,500,000
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Emergency Streambank and Shoreline Protection (Section 14)
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0
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$4,000,000
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$5,000,000
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Flood Control Projects (Section 205)
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$4,978,000
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$7,779,000
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$7,500,000
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Mitigation of Shore Damages (Section 111)
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$4,806,000
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0
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$6,000,000
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Project Modifications for Improvement of the Environment (Section 1135)
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$5,249,000
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$5,249,000
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$7,500,000
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Navigation Program (Section 107)
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0
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0
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$1,000,000
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Shore Protection (Section 103)
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0
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0
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$2,500,000
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Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF)
On Wednesday, April 18th the U.S. House passed its version of the Transportation Reauthorization Bill. The bill included an amendment offered by Congressman Boustany (R-LA), which was essentially the language of H.R.104, the RAMP Act, minus the "Point of Order" provision. The bill passed 293-127 with the support of 69 Democrats and would extend the current surface transportation law through September 30. This extension would be in addition to a 90-day extension already in place through June 30, which was signed into law last month. The HMTF provision, submitted by Boustany, includes language to require the total amount available for spending from the HMTF each fiscal year be equal to the Trust Fund's annual receipts.
We thank the many Members of our NW Congressional Delegation who co-sponsored H.R.104 and supported the Boustany amendment in the Transportation Reauthorization. We will continue to support this provision as the House version of the Transportation Reauthorization bill goes to conference with the Senate bill that passed in the middle of March.
As PNWA reported in previous Nor'westers, we support the RAMP Act, which would require the full annual expenditure of revenues collected for the HMTF. It is projected that a $7 billion "surplus" will have accrued in the Trust Fund by the end of FY2012 - monies that cannot be reclaimed once they are foregone.
In addition to the RAMP activities noted above, PNWA lent its support to a request for the Federal Maritime Commission to study whether the HMT is contributing to cargo diversion to Canada. The FMC report is expected in the next few months.
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PNWA Summer Conference: Online Registration is Now Available
Join us in Seattle, WA June 27-29, for the 2012 PNWA Summer Conference! Our agenda will focus on meeting current and emerging issues head on, tackling challenges and capitalizing on opportunities for navigation and energy stakeholders in the Northwest. Thought provoking and relevant speakers will address the membership and Northwest ports, energy interests, navigation stakeholders and community leaders will discuss efforts to help our region continue to grow. Make your plans to join us and register today!
Speaker & Topic Highlights
- USACE Seattle District: Priorities for 2012 and Efforts in the No-Earmark Era
- Emissions Control Area Regulations - New Standards, New Challenges
- Campaign 2012: The Political Outlook for the Presidential and NW Delegation Elections
- Dredge Material Management Program - USACE Update and Innovative Disposal Solutions
- Puget Sound Action Plan - Working Together To Promote an Environmentally Sound Region
- Washington Council on International Trade - Policies and Priorities for 2012
- Global Coal Perspective: What is Driving Recent Market Developments?
- Exports Through Puget Sound Ports - The Impact On Our PNW Economy
- USACE IWR Report: Port and Inland Waterways Modernization Strategy - Options for the Future
- Case Study Overview: Port of Tacoma, NOAA & USACE Work to Coordinate Bathymetric Surveys
- Washington Board of Maritime Pilots: Challenges of Ensuring Safe, Reliable Service While Ensuring Gateways Remain Cost Competitive
- Much, much more!
Draft Agenda
Wednesday, June 27
10:00am PNWA Executive Committee Meeting
1:00-4:30pm General Session
5:00-7:00pm PNWA Reception (guests welcome!)
Thursday, June 28
8:00am Breakfast & Speaker
9:30-11:30am General Session
11:30am Lunch & Speaker
1:00-4:00pm General Session
4:00pm IPNG Meeting (IPNG members only, please)
Friday, June 29
8:00-11:00am Board of Directors Meeting (all PNWA members may attend)
Marriott Seattle Waterfront
This year's event will be held in the heart of downtown Seattle at the Marriott Seattle Waterfront, Washington's most popular waterfront district near Pike Place Market. From your guest rooms, you will see incredible views of Elliott Bay, the Olympic Mountains and the majestic Mount Rainier. This is a truly great venue for both business and pleasure - make your plans to attend today. We look forward to seeing you in Seattle!
To make your hotel reservations online, please click here. The group code for making online reservations is "pnwpnwa". For more information event, log onto our website or contact Heather Stebbings at 503-234-8553 or heather.stebbings@pnwa.net.
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