• A State of the Waterway Update from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – North and South Atlantic Divisions, and Corps Districts along the Eastern Seaboard
• Presentations from our federal partners at the Maritime Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
• A View from Washington, D.C. from the National Waterways Conference and BoatU.S.
• Panels on Offshore Wind Development and local Virginia projects and challenges
• The AIWA Annual Meeting and Recap of our 2022 Efforts and Successes

In addition, Kristin Meira shared information about the American Cruise Line operations as our luncheon speaker.
 
One of the most interactive topics was covered by Ed Tillet and Bob Sherer. Ed set the stage on the topic “Utilizing input from the recreational boating community to better manage the AIWW,” and Bob walked participants through specific cases where we have “moved the AIWW” to utilize naturally deep channels to reduce dredging needs, and new AIWW stretches for exploration and consideration. We are strong supporters of management alternatives that lessen dredging frequency while maintaining commercial shipping viability, and look forward to continue exploring this initiative with them.
 
We are thankful for all who attended and participated through their presentations and active Q&A. We look forward to providing additional information on federal funding when it becomes available, and one of many good news takeaways is that federal dredging projects are scheduled or are underway for every state along the AIWW. 

The PowerPoint presentations are posted on the AIWA annual meeting webpage and can be accessed by clicking here. 

In December, the AIWA is focused on three important items that could impact the waterway:

•    Runoff race for the remaining Georgia U.S. Senate seat between Warnock and Walker on December 6th. While the Democrats have already secured control of the Senate in the next Congress, the result of this race will determine the final breakdown of democratic vs republican seats and might produce a new Senator for a state along the AIWW. In the Senate, these numbers directly translate to committee budgets, staffing sizes and a number of rules that govern the policies and procedures in the upper body.

•    The current FY23 continuing resolution (CR) expires on December 16th. If Congress does not finalize the FY23 appropriations bills by this date or get another stop gap measure in place, the government will be at risk of a shutdown. Already, we are hearing discussions about another short-term CR until December 23rd or a year-long CR. The lack of an agreement by democrats and republicans on a top line spending number for the FY23 appropriations bills is the number one sticking point. Either CR scenario could impact pending congressionally directed funding (formerly known as earmarks). If Congress completes the FY23 appropriations bills before the end of the year, earmarks could take an across the board reduction. Prior to 2010, earmarks often got slight reductions in the final bill as appropriators worked to reconcile the House and Senate versions. If Congress does not complete the FY23 appropriations bills and passes a year-long CR, all earmarks pending in either the House or Senate FY23 appropriations bills will likely be a casualty. This will directly impact the Florida section of the IWW whch currently has a $2 million earmark from Congressman Brian Mast.

•   On November 15th the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) sent a letter to Congress requesting emergency supplemental funding for three priorities: Ukraine, COVID-19 and disaster recovery. These types of emergency supplemental requests often get included in larger packages such as an end of the year omnibus appropriations bill, but as we noted above, the outcome of FY23 omnibus appropriations is yet to be determined. To view the letter, click here.