Washington Waves: Waterway News From D.C.

After receiving overwhelming approval in both chambers of Congress, a three-bill appropriations package for fiscal year (FY) 2026 that includes funding for Energy and Water Development was ready to go to the president for his signature.

A product of a bipartisan and bicameral conference, H.R. 6938 received votes of 82 to 15 in the Senate and 397 to 28 in the House.

Members of the waterways industry welcomed the congressional passage of the measure, according to a list of supporters provided by the House Appropriations Committee.

“This legislation provides critical funding for the modernization, operation and maintenance of aging lock and dam infrastructure on the inland waterways system—a crucial component of our nation’s agriculture, energy and manufacturing supply chains,” Waterways Council Inc. (WCI) stated.

According to a summary by Senate Democrats, key takeaways included $10.435 billion ($1.75 billion above the FY2025 enacted amount) for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, language that “delineates” how the funds are to be spent on which projects and a “historic” $3.473 billion (a $702 million boost over FY2025) for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to improve navigation by dredging ports and maintaining the nation’s waterways.

A summary by House Republicans highlighted $396.8 million in the bill for construction projects on the inland waterways system that advanced the most critical ongoing projects and roughly $2.2 billion for flood and storm damage reduction activities.

In addition to funding for Energy and Water Development, H.R. 6938 also included appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, Interior and Environment.

Additional Appropriations Bills

Late in the day January 22, the House of Representatives passed the last two appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026. Following the approach taken earlier on appropriations for other agencies, a three-bill package, H.R. 7148, included funding for Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, Defense and Transportation and Housing.

A second bill, H.R. 7147, provided appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, whose operations have generated opposition from Democrats.

H.R. 7147 passed by a vote of 220 to 207, while H.R. 7148 passed by a wider margin—341 to 88.

The measures, as introduced, included: $98 million for Waterways Commerce Cutters, $40 million for deferred shoreside maintenance, $30 million for deferred cutter and boat maintenance, $481.6 million for the Cable Security Program, the Maritime Security Program and the Tanker Security Program, $347 million to support maritime academies, $917 million for the Maritime Administration (a $17 million boost over FY25), $35 million for the small shipyards grant program and $39 million for the Port Infrastructure Development Program.

Lunday Sworn In

Adm. Kevin Lunday was sworn in as the 28th commandant of the Coast Guard.

“I am honored to assume command of the United States Coast Guard,” said Lunday, who had served as acting commandant since January 2025. “Every day, Coast Guard men and women carry out missions that protect our homeland, secure our maritime borders, save lives and protect national security. I am humbled to serve alongside them while ensuring they have what they need to succeed—today and in the future.”

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem administered the oath in front of senior Coast Guard leadership, members of the Joint Force and other distinguished guests.

“President Trump’s plan was simple when he became president of the United States,” Noem said. “He wanted to revitalize the Coast Guard, equip it with the best technology, ships and aircraft available and then recruit the men and women that were necessary to run it all.”

With almost 40 years in the Coast Guard, she called Lunday the right man for such a “tall order.”

Coast Guard MOA

The Coast Guard announced it has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) to strengthen their partnership to promote safety and security for the nation’s recreational boaters.

According to the announcement, the partnership reaffirms the Coast Guard and NASBLA’s commitment to standardizing and improving state boating laws and regulations, enforcing boating under the influence laws, advancing boater education and promoting lifejacket use.

The service credited the partnership with helping to achieve the lowest annual boating fatality rate in the program’s history. In 2024, the 556 deaths was a 77 percent reduction since the Federal Boat Safety Act was enacted in 1971, the Coast Guard said.

“The Coast Guard and NASBLA continue to work together to protect millions of Americans who enjoy recreational boating each year,” said Capt. Brent Schmadeke, chief director of Auxiliary and Boating Safety. “This agreement underscores our dedication to supporting state programs, sharing resources and advancing safety standards nationwide.”

GLPA Committee Meeting

The Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet February 5 in Covington, La., to discuss matters relating to Great Lakes Pilotage, regulations and policies.

Open to the public, the meeting will begin at 8 a.m. EST at the Firehouse Event Center, 432 N. Theard St., Covington, LA 70433.

Comments may be submitted at any time, including orally at the meeting. To ensure comments are received before the meeting, they should be submitted no later than January 28, preferably via https://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. USCG-2025-0394.

For additional information and requests for special accommodation due to a disability, contact Francis Levesque at 202-906-0835 or Francis.R.Levesque@uscg.mil.

IMO-Related Public Meeting

The State Department is scheduled to conduct a virtual public meeting February 4 to prepare for the 13th session of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Pollution Prevention and Response Subcommittee in London, UK, February 9-13.

Set to begin at 1 p.m. EST, the meeting will be available to the public via Microsoft Teams up to the capacity of the line. The Microsoft Teams information is conference call-in number 1-410-874-6742, phone conference ID 213 768 608#.

To RSVP, contact Nicole Schindler by email at Nicole.M.Schindler@uscg.mil no later than February 2 or in writing at United States Coast Guard (CG-OES), ATTN: Ms. Nicole M. Schindler, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE, Stop 7509, Washington, DC 20593-7509 to be received no later than January 29 or phone at 206-820-5710 no later than February 2.