Congress this week passed the $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill, and this morning - after initially threatening to veto it - President Trump
ultimately signed it into law. This bill provides funding to multiple agencies and departments that directly impact the region and the environment.
Specific to the Mississippi River Basin, the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program was fully funded at $33.17 million. This program, according to the Army Corps of Engineers, "has come to be recognized as the single most important effort committed to ensuring the viability and vitality of the Upper Mississippi River System's diverse and significant fish and wildlife resources." The Army Corps of Engineers' Mississippi River and Tributaries fund received $425 million, a robust increase from the FY2018 budget request.
Other Mississippi River-related highlights in the omnibus spending bill include:
- The Environmental Protection Agency was level funded at $8.1 billion, despite the budget's proposed 31% decrease in funds for the agency.
- Energy and Water appropriations in general were funded at $43.2 billion, which is approximately $9 billion above the FY2018 budget request.
- The Department of the Interior received $1.48 billion in funding, a marked increase from the FY2018 budget request of approximately $1 billion.
