Congress would reject President Obama’s call to reduce funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers next year under respective versions of the FY17 Energy and Water spending legislation unveiled by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees last week.
President Obama had requested just over $4.6 billion for the Army Corps next year, but spending legislation approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee last week includes $6 billion for the agency – equal to its current funding level. The bill also includes $1.14 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation, $327 million above the President’s request but $91 million below its FY16 level.
The version of the Energy and Water Appropriations bill approved by a House Appropriations subcommittee last week includes similar figures: $6.1 billion for the Army Corps and $1.1 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation. The bill would also block implementation of the Clean Water Rule by the Corps.
The full Senate is expected to consider its Energy and Water spending bill this week, while the House Appropriations Committee could also vote this week on that chamber’s version of the bill.