House approves spending increases in water projects

WASHINGTON, June 28, 2001 — The House of Representatives today approved a $23.7 billion spending bill for water and energy projects, an increase of $1.2 billion over the Bush Administration's proposed budget.

About half of the $1.2 billion increase will be directed to the Corps of Engineers, whose budget would be more than $4.47 billion, a 15 percent increase over the Bush budget. The House increased spending for numerous water projects for an agency that the Bush Administration was attempting to hold more fiscally accountable.

The budget also gives record funding to beach restoration projects. More than 80 projects are funded at a total cost to federal taxpayers of $150,797,000. This is a $62,712,000 increase over President Bush's budget for beach and shore protection projects and is the most the federal government has ever spent in one year on beach projects.

The House reversed an Administration initiative to reduce the federal contribution to 35 percent of the cost for beach replenishment projects.