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Corps of Engineers
The House and Senate passed the Consolidated Appropriation Act, 2016 and the President signed it into law on Friday, 18 December.
This bill provides a record appropriation for the Civil Works Program - $5.989 billion! This is a 27% increase of approximately $1.3 billion oveer the President's budget of $4.732 billion. It is also $500 million above the FY 2015 enacted level.
Construction Generl (CG) received $1.862 billion and O&M received $3.137 billion. This provides 'additional' funding I both CG and O&M. The Corps has until mid-February to provide Congress with a work plan on how they will allocate these funds. The RRVA is working with our stakeholders and delegation to submit our needs for FY 2016.
Bureau of Reclamation
The Bureau of Reclamation received a $313,815,000 increase in their budget. They will also have to provide Congress with a plan on how they will allocate these additional funds.
NRCS
NRCS received $850,856,000 for their Conservation Operations account; $17,928,000 more than the House mark-up and $4,353,000 less than the Senate mark-up.
$752,156,000 is appropriated for Conservation Technical Assistance and $98,700,000 for Soil & Snow Surveys and Plant Materials.
A "big win" is that $12,000,000 was appropriated for Watershed Rehabilitation of our aging small watershed dams. The House mark-up had $6,000,000 and the Senate had no funds allocated.
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