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Committee On Appropriations News

26 Jun 2023

U.S. House Committee Green-Lights Strong Funding - WCI

Š W.Scott McGill / Adobe Stock

The House Committee on Appropriations approved by a vote of 34-24 the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Energy and Water Development (E&W) Appropriations Bill. Included in the bill are Community Project Funding (CPF) requests for Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF) construction projects.Overall proposed funding for Corps’ Civil Works is $9.57 billion, an increase of $910 million above FY23’s appropriated level, and $2.16 billion above the President’s FY24 budget request.FY24 funding for construction projects on the inland waterways is $455.97 million…

18 Dec 2020

US Inland Waterways: Cheer the Year!

Š Rick Lohre / Adobe Stock

As we head toward the end of a very chaotic and COVID-filled 2020 and try to reflect on the positives, the inland waterways had a pretty good year overall. Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI), whose members depend on a modern, efficient inland waterways system, offers this look back, with hopes ahead for the passage of a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2020 with our construction cost-share adjustment priority in the lame duck session of Congress.A disappointing FY21 budget requestIn February…

05 Apr 2017

Senate Hearing on USMMA Issues Scheduled

The Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies of the Senate Committee on Appropriations will hold a hearing on 5 April to examine protecting midshipmen, focusing on preventing sexual assault and sexual harassment at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.   Senator Susan Collins (R- ME) will chair the meeting.   Details of the event can be found HERE   Witnesses will include:   Mr. Joel Szabat / Executive Director / U.S. Maritime Administration Rear Admiral James Helis / Superintendent / U.S. Merchant Marine Academy The Honorable Calvin Scovel, III / Inspector General / U.S. Department of Transportation

26 Feb 2015

US Keen in Maritime Cooperation with India

The US is keen in exploring great opportunities for co-operation on maritime issues with India, Admiral Jonathan Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations told members of the House Committee on Appropriations during a hearing, says a report by PTI. Great opportunity has emerged after the bilateral meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama, he said. Analysts pointed out that Both India and the United States will gain extra leverage against China from a strategic partnership. The US navy will be able to exercise its power to wield ‘broader’ influence in the Indian Ocean and enable the Indian naval fleet to reign supreme in the region.

25 Nov 2014

Overwhelming Support for ‘Hit the HMT Target!’

Today, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) applauded a “Dear Colleague” letter to the leadership of the Senate Committee on Appropriations that was signed by 22 senators, urging appropriators to meet the dredging funding commitments made in the 2014 Water Resources Reform & Development Act (WRRDA), passed in May. That letter, together with a similar one circulated through the House earlier this fall to House Appropriations Committee leadership, supports the “Hit the HMT Target!” campaign to impress upon lawmakers the need to annually fund what was authorized in WRRDA. In July, the House approved fiscal 2015 appropriations that hit the HMT target, thanks to a floor amendment put forth by Cong. Janice Hahn (D-CA) and Cong.

09 May 2013

HII Bolster Government and Customer Relations Team

John "Jay" Donnelly

Huntington Ingalls Industries made two appointments to its government and customer relations leadership team. Carolyn E. Apostolou has been named vice president for legislative affairs (Senate), and Vice Adm. John "Jay" Donnelly (U.S. Navy, Ret.) has been named vice president of program integration and assessment. Apostolou joined on April 29, and Donnelly reported on May 6. Both report to Mitchell B. Waldman, corporate vice president, government and customer relations. "Carrie and Jay come to us with several decades of experience in their respective fields," Waldman said.

17 May 2011

Wrecks of the World II, June 6-7

the World: Evaluating and Addressing Potential Underwater Threats” (WOW) II” on Monday, June 6 and Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) in the Washington, DC area (Linthicum Heights, MD) USA. The conference will explore the problem of potentially polluting wrecks and recent incidents around the world that have caused government agencies and responsible parties to look proactively at preventing catastrophic oil and other chemical releases from these long-submerged shipwrecks which may contain as much as 20 million tons of oil and other hazardous materials. Sporadic or continuous leakages or potential sudden massive spillages from these wrecks pose a continual risk across the globe.

16 Apr 2011

WISTA USA Discusses Regulatory, Enforcement, Congressional Impact

At its Annual General Meeting in Washington, DC in early April, more than 70 WISTA USA members and guests gathered to discuss issues of concern to the maritime community. Leading authorities from the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Department of Justice, regulatory and trade associations, and the U.S. Congress met with shipping professionals to discuss and debate the current status of environmental and enforcement issues and the impact of the 112th Congress on the industry, and to examine strategies for moving forward.

16 Jul 2010

EPA Statement: Use of Oil Dispersant on the Oil Spill

At the legislative hearing on the use of dispersants in the BP oil spill, Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator of the U.S. Chairman Mikulski, Ranking Member Shelby and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify on the role of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill response. My testimony today will provide you with an overview of EPA’s role and activities in the affected Gulf Coast region following the April 20, 2010 Deepwater Horizon mobile offshore drilling unit explosion and resulting oil spill as well as a summary of our primary environmental activities, including dispersant use, waste management, and beach cleanup.

17 May 2002

House Appropriations Committee Approves Emergency Supplemental Appropriations

The House Committee on Appropriations issued a news release stating that it reported out (approved) the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for FY2002. The focus of the measure is on homeland security, but other issues are addressed. Of interest to the maritime community, the measure includes $75 million for grants to port authorities for security enhancements at U.S. commercial ports. It provides $12 million to the Coast Guard for additional port vulnerability assessments and another $12 million for purchase of extra coastal patrol boats. The measure now goes to the House floor for consideration. Source: HK Law

28 Jul 2005

Schwarzenegger Announces $5M Port Security Grant

Governor Schwarzenegger joins Admiral Kevin J. Eldridge, USCG, Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District and Matt Bettenhausen, Director, Office of Homeland Security, State of California, onboard a UTB-41 Coast Guard boat to observe coast guard port security drills. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a $5 million grant to improve port security at 11 of California's ports during a visit to the San Diego Coast Guard Joint Operations Center. "In California, we have many threat targets, including large urban areas, mass transit, railways, and international icons like the Golden Gate Bridge," said Gov. Schwarzenegger. California's ports bring in 43 percent of the nation's cargo containers.

16 Feb 2007

Mecklenborg Testifies on Behalf of WCI to House Subcommittee

Daniel P. Mecklenborg, First Vice Chairman and General Counsel of Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) (and Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Ingram Barge Company) testified today on behalf of WCI before the Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, U.S. House of Representatives. The topic of Mr. Mecklenborg’s testimony was the current status and future of the Nation’s inland waterway navigation infrastructure, including trends in the industry and the next decade’s needs. In his testimony, Mecklenborg offered recommendations for consideration as appropriations legislation is debated. Timely appropriations.

08 Sep 2006

Statement of Adm. Allen before Senate Appropriations Subcommittee

The US Coast Guard posted the statement of Admiral Thad W. Allen, USCG before the Subcommittee on Homeland Security of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. The Commandant discussed the reorganization of the Coast Guard to better serve the nation and promptly respond in times of emergency.

12 Jul 2001

House Committee Approves $30 Million For Title XI Guarantees

The House Committee on Appropriations approved a bill that would provide $30 million for Title XI loan guarantees in Fiscal Year 2002, the highest level of Title XI funding reported out of the House Committee since its Fiscal Year 1998 Appropriations bill. "We're pleased that the Committee has provided $30 million in loan guarantees to fund this vital program," said Allen Walker, president of the Shipbuilders' Council of America. The bill, which also includes $4 million for administering the program, is expected to be considered on the House floor next week. If approved, the funding provided by the House Committee will be a major victory for supporters of the Title XI program, particularly since the Administration's Fiscal Year 2002 budget request eliminated Title XI funding.

08 May 2003

Statement of Asa Hutchinson to Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee

The Senate Committee on Appropriations released the Statement of Asa Hutchinson

07 May 2003

Admiral Collins Addresses Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee

The Senate Committee on Appropriations released the Statement of Admiral Thomas Collins