The U.S. Senate yesterday approved the final conference agreement to the FY19 Minibus appropriations package (H.R. 5895) that includes funding for Energy and Water Development, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Legislative Branch.
Advanced by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, the bill includes funding for critical infrastructure projects administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, advanced research managed by the Department of Energy, and critical provisions for Florida’s military and veterans.
Rubio provisions in the FY19 Minibus appropriations package (H.R. 5895) include:
Herbert Hoover Dike Rehabilitation :
Full funding of the President’s Budget request (Rubio successfully secured the availability of all additional funding necessary to expedite completion of the Dike by 2022 in the disaster supplemental package).
Includes language supporting long-standing congressional direction that the Corps may not require funding in excess of legally required costs shares for studies and project as a criterion for funding decisions, rejecting the initial budget request which would have only made funds available for HHD if the State of Florida commits certain funds.
Everglades Restoration:
Funding for Florida Ports and Waterways:
Makes available up to $500.25 million in additional construction funding for use at the Corps’ discretion in expanding Florida’s coastal and deep draft navigation seaports;
Provides $1.5 billion from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for the operation and maintenance of America’s infrastructure in support of waterborne trade and commerce, including:
Makes available up to $50 million in additional funding for use at the Corps’ discretion in maintaining Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways;
Makes available up to $40 million in additional funding for use at the Corps’ discretion in maintaining Florida’s inland waterways including the Okeechobee Waterway: