AGC Presses for Increased Inland Waterways Construction Funding

On April 28, AGC joined with farm, labor inland waterway user organizations in sending the Senate Finance Committee a letter urging an increase in revenues for inland waterway construction projects. The Inland Waterways Trust Fund—which finances lock, dam and other navigational projects—generates revenue through a 20-cents-per-gallon of fuel user fee on vessels operating on the inland waterway system. The 300 commercial barge companies that pay that fee support a 6 to 9 cents increase in that fee to support additional construction on the system. The House Ways and Means Committee recently included a provision for a 6-cent increase in the inland waterway user fee as a part of its tax reform package. AGC has been pressing for such an increase throughout the Water Resources Development Act reauthorization and tax reform processes. For more information, please contact Jimmy Christianson at (703) 837-5325 or christiansonj@agc.org.