The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Arlington, Va., recently called on Congress to provide an appropriation of at least $6.8 billion for the Corps of Engineers Civil Works program in fiscal year 2009. According to AGC, the Administration's proposal of $4.4 billion for the program — an $800 million cut over the amount granted by Congress for fiscal year 2008 — falls short. AGC and its members have long advocated for investment in flood protection efforts to secure homes, businesses, and other critical infrastructure from devastating floodwaters.
"The recent flooding in the Midwest highlights the magnitude of need for new investments in improved flood control, increasing navigation capacity, and ecosystem restoration,” says Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer of AGC. "The $6.8 billion that we are urging represents a small down payment toward covering the nation's staggering waterways investment gap."
