Cruisers Net is proud to be a member of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association, whose lobbying work is crucial to keeping the Waterway navigable and safe. Your membership dollars directly support their vital work. Please join and encourage your boating neighbors to do the same, regardless of their home port.
Congress on August recess while House and Senate Energy & Water Appropriations Bills under consideration
Funding for the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway took a big step forward in the House of Representatives in July. After a one-week delay caused by consideration and passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill (aka the reconciliation bill), the House Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Energy & Water Development and Related Agencies passed their version of the FY26 Energy & Water Appropriations Bill on July 14.
After subcommittee approval, the full House Appropriations Committee held their E&W bill markup hearing on July 17th, and the appropriations bill was passed. The great news for the AIWW is that the House bill included an additional $4.222 million for the waterway in North Carolina, secured by Congressman Greg Murphy through a Community Project Funding request (aka earmark). We were one of only 19 recipients of CPF funding for Operations & Maintenance funding in the country.
The appropriations bill now awaits a vote by the full House of Representatives. Below are links with more project specific-information from the House bill.
The House Energy & Water Appropriations Bill Report with individual project listing is available by clicking here. A full list of Community Project Funding Requests is available by clicking here.
Looking forward
With Congress on August recess, we will not have any hearings or markups until after Labor Day. Upon their return, Congress will need to pass all 12 appropriations bills prior to September 30th or the government will enter a shutdown. It is more likely that Congress will pass a continuing resolution to keep the federal government open, yet that will also be difficult due to the current political realities.
In addition, the Senate has not yet scheduled committee or subcommittee hearings on FY26 Energy & Water Development Appropriations, and Subcommittee Chairman John Kennedy (LA) has expressed deep reservations about moving forward with the current funding levels.
Below is a table outlining our recent success and updating the current state of waterway funding in the House bill. It is possible that we could surpass the $220 million in waterway funding over the past five years with another successful funding cycle in 2026. As always, we will continue to watch how the process moves forward while the members are home for the month, and we will await further action in September.
Adam Telle Confirmed as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works
On August 2nd, the US Senate confirmed Adam Telle to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASACW). The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works is the principal advisor to the Secretary of the Army on all matters related to the Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works program. This includes setting policy, providing supervision, and overseeing functions related to the Army’s Civil Works, which encompasses improving and maintaining the nation’s infrastructure and waterways.
Mr. Telle brings more than two decades of public service in the Senate and Administration. In addition to serving in the White House’s Office of Legislative Affairs during the first Trump Administration, Mr. Telle held senior roles under Senator Richard Shelby (AL) and Senator Thad Cochran (MS). Most recently, Mr. Telle served as the Chief of Staff for Senator Bill Hagerty (TN) prior to his nomination. The AIWA congratulates Mr. Telle, and we look forward to working with him to increase federal funding and project support for the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
BoatUS Foundation and NOAA Partnership to Fund the Removal of 300+ Abandoned Derelict Vessels
In a first-of-its-kind effort across six states and two unincorporated territories, dozens of coastal communities will see a significant investment in removing more than 300 abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) from their local waters. With four-year project funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program, administered through the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water, the ADV grants will fund removal and education efforts in communities heavily impacted by ADVs and the navigation, safety and pollution hazards they pose.
The projects were selected by a panel of independent salvage experts, state boating advocates, nonprofit research organization and planning agency staff under a program created by the nonprofit BoatUS Foundation with NOAA funding to remove abandoned and damaged boats from our nation’s coasts and the Great Lakes. Read the full press release on the BoatUS website here.
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association Annual Meeting in Savannah, GA
The AIWA is pleased to announce our return to the Savannah Riverfront for the Annual Meeting on November 18-20, 2025 at the Hyatt Regency Savannah. With a number of success stories to share and upcoming projects to discuss, we are building a program to cover a range of topics of interest to all waterway stakeholders, and we will announce our draft agenda in September.
Thank you to our supporting sponsors, and there are opportunities still available. Please click here for the current sponsorship information, and we look forward to seeing you in November.
The AIWA is a national non-profit organization with the mission of securing funding and support for the maintenance of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. We are the only organization dedicated to ensuring the future of the AIWW and proudly represent all stakeholders of the waterway.
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