U.S. Senator Thad Cochran has announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will provide an additional $67.1 million in FY2016 funding for flood control, navigation and other water resources-related work on waterways throughout Mississippi.
“ Congress gives the Army Corps of Engineers discretion to use a certain amount of funding for projects that were not included or insufficiently funded by the President’s initial budget request ,” Cochran said.
The additional funding for Mississippi projects originates from FY2016 appropriations provided by Congress for the Corps to use at its discretion to advance ongoing Civil Works projects involving flood control, navigation, water supply, ground water protection, waterfowl management, bank stabilization, erosion and sedimentation control, and environmental restoration projects.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2016 (Public Law 114-113) has already specified $108.5 million in Army Corps funding for more than 30 Mississippi projects/activities requested by the President.
With the additional funding announced by Cochran, more than $175.6 million – $67.1 million more than the President initially requested – will benefit Mississippi water resources projects in FY2016.