April 19th, 2016 by WCBC Radio
U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced Committee approval on Thursday of fiscal year (FY) 2017 Energy and Water Development funding legislation, which includes $112 million for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects in Maryland making public investments in waterways that support private sector jobs. As Vice Chairwoman, Senator Mikulski will continue to fight for more funding for Army Corps of Engineers projects which net $16 of economic benefits for every one dollar spent. In the next step of the appropriations process, the bill will move to the Senate floor this week.
“These public investments in Maryland’s waterways create and sustain private sector jobs. This is a federal investment in the lives and livelihoods of those who depend on clean and open waterways. It will keep businesses open and keep Marylanders working,” Senator Mikulski said. “The Corps’ dredging of the Port of Baltimore keeps our economy rolling. The Port means jobs, from the dock workers who unload the ships, to the manufacturers who rely on cargo transported by the ships. It’s also crucial in preparing us for the bigger ships that will soon be sailing through the widened Panama Canal. These investments make our country safer and Maryland’s economy stronger.”
Senator Mikulski has been a longtime advocate of promoting job growth through Maryland’s ports and waterways. The bill includes $20.575 million for annual maintenance-dredging of the Port of Baltimore shipping channels, a major economic engine for America and Maryland that support more than 25,000 jobs across the state – including 14,630 direct jobs. These jobs generate $3 billion in salaries for hardworking Marylanders and their families and $304 million in state and local taxes. Among U.S. ports, Baltimore is the largest port for international automobiles and receives the top rank for handling light trucks, farm and construction machinery, and imported forest products, sugar, aluminum and gypsum.
The spending bill includes funding for the following U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects throughout Maryland:
· $186,000 for the City of Cumberland to support the operation and maintenance of a project that protects Cumberland and Ridgeley, W.Va. against flooding.
·· $2.151 million for the operation and maintenance of Jennings Randolph Lake in Garrett County, which provides flood control and recreation to Western Maryland and water quality and water supply for Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. This funding includes $61,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District to coordinate the operation of this project.
· $119,000 for annual levee system inspections on seven levees in Prince George’s County, two in the Town of Kitzmiller in Garrett County and three in the City of Cumberland in Allegany County.
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