Waterways group lauds congressional action on appropriations

Waterways group lauds congressional action on appropriations    The National Waterways Conference is praising a congressional agreement to provide $5.4 billion for capital improvements for the nation's waterway infrastructure.
   The Energy and Water Development Appropriations conference committee reached a compromise agreement on the funding Monday night and the House approved the funding Wednesday. The Senate is expected to follow suit in the near future.
   The $5.4 billion figure is $1.2 billion over the amount requested by President Bush for Army Corps of Engineers program in fiscal year 2006.
   The conferees gave priority to dam safety, flood protection and maintenance of ports, inland waterways, and the Great Lakes. The conference report also included an extra $8 million for study of hurricane protection in Louisiana.
   'The $5.4 billion appropriation reflects the importance of the Army Corp of Engineers and the Civil Works program to maintaining the economic and environmental benefits of our nation's waterway infrastructure,' a statement from the NWC said.