Tennessee’s two federal appropriators, Senator Lamar Alexander and Representative Chuck Fleischmann, on Wednesday said that replacement of Chickamauga Lock should continue for the second consecutive year after Congress passes an omnibus funding bill for fiscal year 2016 that makes $29 million available to continue construction of the new Chickamauga Lock.
Senator Alexander, who leads the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, said money slated for the new lock in the Omnibus Appropriations bill should allow construction of the new lock to continue, which was restarted last year after years of delay.
“The bill provides sufficient funding for the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers to continue construction in fiscal year 2016 of Chickamauga Lock. Based on estimates for the first three Inland Waterways Trust Fund priorities, there should be $29 million available to continue construction on Chickamauga Lock, which is the fourth priority in the list of projects Congress agreed upon. This builds on the $3 million used to restart construction on Chickamauga Lock last year,” Senator Alexander said. “This is the second year that the Energy and Water Appropriations bill has fully funded the plan for inland waterways priorities, which is important for America’s economy. When you consider the new money that is raised by the fees the large barge companies voluntarily agreed to pay – that are matched with taxpayers dollars – if we continue this over a period of time, then we will have the kind of locks and dams that a great economy like ours needs.”
Rep. Fleischmann, who serves on the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, said the bill builds on previous efforts.
“This year’s Energy and Water Appropriations bill marks another great step for our Inland Waterways Trust Fund projects and Chickamauga Lock. Thanks to work previously done to restructure the Inland Waterways Trust Fund and the increase in the Trust’s funding there should be enough money to continue work on the Chickamauga Lock that was started earlier this year,” Rep. Fleischmann said.
The House and Senate are expected to vote on the Omnibus Appropriations bill later this week.
Click here for video of Senator Alexander’s statement on the Chickamauga Lock.