OP/EDCOLUMNAbout TimeBy Michael J. TooheyOn January 17, 2014, Congress additional funds to navigation construction; $27 million averted another government shutdown added for navigation O&M; $128 million in additional with a “just in time” delivery of an Om- O&M funds for deep draft ports and an additional $42 nibus Appropriations bill. Thankfully, million for inland navigation; additional $40 million for some good news for the inland water- small ports O&M; and additional dredging funds of $5 ways also has arrived; Just in Time! million for Mississippi River Tributaries (MRT). The recent Consolidated Appropria- This is very welcome news to the inland waterways in-tions Act of 2014, or Omnibus bill, has dustry, whose lock and dam infrastructure is challenged brought a healthy funding level to the because of declining funding levels to modernize and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This new law contains the maintain it. Most of the inland waterways locks and dams FY 2014 Energy & Water Development and Related Agen- were built in the 1930s with a projected 50-year life span. cies Appropriations Act that funds the Corps’ Civil Works Today, of the nation’s 241 locks, 57% are 50 years or older, program. The total program funding level of $5.467 bil- while 26% exceed 70 years of age. lion represents a $749 million increase over the FY 2013 More good news came our way during the State of the post-sequester enacted level, and is a 15.9% increase rela- Union address on January 28 when President Obama tive to FY ‘13 funding levels. urged Congress to pass a Water Resources Reform and De-The Corps’ Operations & Maintenance (O&M) ac- velopment Act (WRRDA) this year, and connected the na-count received $2.86 billion, a 25% bump over FY ’13 tion’s waterways to jobs, saying, “Moreover, we can take the post-sequester levels, the highest appropriations level ever money we save from this transition to tax reform to create for O&M in an annual appropriations bill. jobs rebuilding our roads, upgrading our ports, unclogging Within the bill’s 4.4% increase – to $1.656 billion – for our commutes – because in today’s global economy,