Two key House members see shortcomings in President Bush’s fiscal 2007 Corps of Engineers civil works budget request. The $4.7-billion plan is down 42% from 2006’s enacted level, counting supplemental funding, says water resources and environment subcommittee Chairman John J. Duncan Jr. (R-Tenn.). Energy and water appro-priations subcommittee Chairman David Hobson (R-Ohio), on March 2, noted the proposal is below 2006 appropriations, “so I don’t think it’s adequate.” Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works John Paul Woodley Jr. says the request is the largest proposed by any President.

Duncan says the plan’s “most startling” item is that it would terminate 532 Corps studies and projects. “These are important efforts that the Congress has authorized and funded,” he says.