Judging from figures in spending bills making their way through Congress, the Army Corps of Engineers civil-works program is in line for a modest fiscal year 2017 funding increase that will nudge the total to a new high.
At ENR press time, the Senate was nearing approval of an appropriations measure that would provide $6 billion for Corps civil works, up $11 million from the level in the 2016 omnibus spending package. The omnibus had a record sum for civil works, excluding emergency funds. The House Appropriations Committee has gone even higher, approving a measure on April 19 that has $6.09 billion for the program, which includes flood control, environmental, dredging and lock and dam projects. That bill is awaiting floor action.