IFPTE Urges Lawmakers to Adopt "Job Creating" Funding Formula in Final WRDA Bill

September 21, 2020

Honorable Pete DeFazio, Chairman
Transportation & Infrastructure Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
2165 Rayburn Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Honorable Sam Graves, Ranking Member
Transportation & Infrastructure Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
2164 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Honorable John Barrasso, Chairman
Environmental & Public Works Committee
U.S. Senate
410 Dirksen Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Honorable Tom Carper, Ranking Senator
Environmental & Public Works Committee
U.S. Senate
456 Dirksen Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairmen and Ranking Members:

As you work toward finalizing the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020, we are writing regarding the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF) and its importance to the construction and rehabilitation of our nation’s locks and dams. While IFPTE applauds the inclusion of a 65/35 General Fund/Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF) cost-share provision in both the Senate and House bills (H.R. 7575, S. 3591) we urge acceptance of Section 1069 of S. 3591 in the final conference report, as it contains no sunset provision.

IFPTE thanks you for your bipartisan leadership in ensuring that current and past WRDA bills protect our nation’s homeland security, provide for maximum economic efficiency and transport of goods along our nation’s inland waterways, ports and harbors, and are to the benefit of creating and maintaining tens of thousands of good paying, union represented jobs. We believe that making the cost share practice permanent will provide even more stability for these projects, and, simply put, will continue to be a strong engine of job creation.

We applaud both the House and Senate for resisting some calls to revert back to a 50/50 cost share practice. According to The Waterways Council, of which IFPTE is a member, “reverting to the 50/50 cost share would allow only six projects to be funded to completion in 10 years, and 13 in 20 years, leaving 12 unfinished.” The 65/35 cost share arrangement endorsed by both the Senate and House bills will allow for the completion of more projects over a shorter period of time, which is good for our nation, our commerce, and will protect and create jobs.

We urge you to adopt Section 1069 of S. 3591 in the final WRDA conference report. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Paul Shearon,
President

Matthew Biggs,
Secretary-Treasurer/Legislative Director