Washington Waves: Waterway News From D. C.

The Senate overwhelmingly voted to advance a bipartisan stopgap funding measure to avoid a government shutdown on October 1 and keep federal agencies funded through December 11.

By a roll call of 89 to 4 on a procedural matter, senators put their chamber on track to vote on H.R. 6500 before they leave for their traditional August break.

That bipartisan tally should put Senate appropriators in a strong position after Labor Day, when they enter into negotiations to resolve major differences with their House counterparts.

Before leaving on its August break, the House passed H.R. 9770, its version of a continuing resolution (CR), by a vote of 220 to 205.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, described her panel’s CR as straightforward approach that mostly keeps current funding levels but also includes “necessary” adjustments for programs such as nutrition, national security, shipbuilding and disaster relief.

“The CR also avoids any poison pills,” Collins said. “This measure gives Congress the time we need to continue our work on bipartisan appropriations bills, which are always my strong preference for handling annual government funding.”

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the panel’s vice chairman, singled out wording to close a “loophole” in House Republicans’ CR that would allow the Trump administration to transfer funding provided for other programs to Border Patrol, “which desperately needs reform, not more money.”

Murray also pointed to provisions that block implementation of the Office of Management and Budget’s “corrupt new grants rule” for the duration of the CR that “would systematically politicize federal funding and allow Trump officials to cancel grants at any time for any reason.”

“Enabling this rule would only give Trump the greenlight to take even more federal funding hostage,” she said.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, said the temporary block in the Senate bill must be made permanent.

After both chambers return for their September work session, Congress will have only days to come up with a stopgap measure that can pass and be signed into law by the president.

Plugging TWIC Risks

To address maritime security risks, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) identified several actions the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) should take in its Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program.

Those included implementing a plan to communicate TWIC information to stakeholders and communicating TWIC-related violation and deficiency data with inspectors.

Instead of using a documented communication plan to share information with stakeholders, the federal government watchdog agency says that TSA relies on an ad hoc communication approach.

“This has contributed to some stakeholders reporting that they experienced declining engagement with and delays receiving key program updates from TSA,” GAO stated in a recent report.

“Developing and implementing a communication plan could help TSA ensure that all stakeholders receive the information necessary to effectively operate the TWIC program and reduce security risks.”

According to GAO, the Coast Guard also does not share or analyze all of the data it collects during inspections to oversee how facility operators implement the TWIC program.

For example, the Coast Guard collects data on deficiencies, a less severe form of noncompliance, and violations, a more severe form of noncompliance, that can result in notices of violation or civil penalties.

However, GAO said the Coast Guard does not provide the data to TWIC inspectors because the data did not relate to areas that would require a change to the program.

By communicating the data with inspectors, regardless of their effect on the program, the Coast Guard could improve inspectors’ awareness of TWIC-related risks.

In its report, GAO said the Department of Homeland Security concurred with its recommendations.

Operation Arctic Cohesion

The Coast Guard announced the successful completion of a major interoperability exercise conducted by the crews of Legend-class national security cutter USCGC Stone (WMSL 758) and the Norwegian Coast Guard Vessel Hopen, marking a significant milestone in international Arctic cooperation and operational readiness.

As part of Operation Arctic Cohesion (OAC) 2026, the exercise took place from July 8 to 15 off the coast of New England and ashore in Newport, R.I.

“As the Arctic domain grows more complex, strategic collaboration is vital to safeguarding the region and ensuring we can respond effectively to evolving demands,” said Capt. Anne O’Connell, commanding officer of Stone.

“Exercises like this demonstrate that we are stronger together than we are apart, and the U.S. Coast Guard looks forward to continuing to strengthen our international partnerships to ensure we are collectively ready for the challenges of tomorrow.”

According to the announcement, the two coast guards are part of the Arctic Coast Guard Forum (ACGF), an operationally focused partnership that brings together the Arctic countries to strengthen maritime safety, security and environmental stewardship across the High North.

Great Lakes Survey Voyage

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its largest research vessel, the Lake Guardian, began its month-long summer survey of water quality and food-web conditions in all five Great Lakes.

The EPA, which has conducted biannual sampling surveys since 1983, said the summer survey offers a critical assessment of lake conditions when warmer surface water overlays colder bottom water, which are conditions that influence nutrient and oxygen levels, algal growth, organism distribution and fish habitat.

Data collected will help protect human health and the environment by safeguarding water quality for drinking and recreation, assessing ecosystem stressors and managing fisheries, the EPA said.

Great Lakes Advisory Board

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) Advisory Board is scheduled to hold a virtual public meeting at 10 a.m. EDT on September 9.

Details on how to participate will be forwarded to those who RSVP for the meeting that is scheduled to last two hours.

For additional information on deadlines for requesting to speak at the meeting, submitting written materials to the board or requesting special accommodations, contact Sylvonica Madlock at 202-870-6335 or by mail to Sylvonica Madlock, Executive Officer, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Suite W98-300, Washington, DC 20590.