Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers expressed their annoyance Feb. 26 that the Obama administration once again proposed deep cuts in the budget for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The fiscal year 2017 request for the corps was $4.51 billion in net budget authority, down 23 percent, from the level of fiscal 2016. The remarks of House appropriators made it obvious that-also once again-they would not take the budget request seriously, given the importance of corps projects to flood control, inland navigation, ports, coastal navigation and large-scale environmental restoration projects. "The irresponsibility of this budget request makes the committee's work more difficult," said Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), during a hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, which he chairs.
展开▼
