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    • Feb 16, 2026by:   Curtis Hoff No Comments

      AIWA Newsletter, February 2026

      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.

       

       

       

      On January 15, 2026, the President signed into law the mini-bus appropriations package that included Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026) funding for Energy and Water Development, which included funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). As expected, the bill included the following amounts for the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and our partners on the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway.

      VA – Albemarle Chesapeake Canal – President’s Budget Request – $3.597M, Final Appropriations Bill Amount – $3.597M
      VA – Dismal Swamp Canal – President’s Budget Request – $1.816M, Final Appropriations Bill Amount – $1.816M
      NC – President’s Budget Request – $12.490M, Final Appropriations Bill Amount – $16.712M, an increase of $4.222M over the President’s Budget 
      SC – President’s Budget Request – $9.213M, Final Appropriations Bill Amount – $9.213M
      GA – President’s Budget Request – $6.265M, Final Appropriations Bill Amount – $6.265M 
      FL – President’s Budget Request – $4.830M, Final Appropriations Bill Amount – $4.830M
      Total for the AIWW/IWW – President’s Budget Request – $38.211 Million, Final Appropriations Bill Amount – $42.433 Million
      Total for the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway – President’s Budget Request – $1.715 Million, Final Appropriations Bill Amount – $1.715 Million

      A highlight this year is that Congressman Greg Murphy’s Community Project Funding request for an additional $4.222 million for North Carolina was included in their final bill. This funding was an advocacy goal for the Association for FY2026, and we are grateful for Congressman Murphy’s support.

      Allocation of Additional Dredging Needs Funding Pots
      We also have the opportunity to secure additional funding through the Additional Dredging Needs funding pots included in the appropriations bill listed below:
      General Navigation – $509.482 million
      Inland Waterways – $47.243 million
      Small, Remote or Subsistence Navigation – $300 million

      The Corps was directed to identify additional projects in these three categories and report back to Congress in April. With the funding received in the current bill, we have secured nearly $225 million in federal funding for operations and maintenance of Marine Highway 95 in the last four years. Projects have been planned or underway in every state along the waterway since 2017.

      Looking ahead
      Now that we know the final funding amounts for 2026, we are working on our funding requests for FY2027. We have contacted the Congressional members’ offices and AIWA board members and staff are planning to meet with them during the first week of March. We will be reporting on these efforts in our next newsletter.

      In addition, we are waiting to see what funding amounts are proposed for the Corps in the President’s budget for FY2027. This is generally the first step in the appropriations process and we hope to know these amounts prior to our meetings in March, but we anticipate that the release of the President’s budget will be delayed as Congress continues to complete the process on the remaining appropriations bill for Homeland Security. While this appropriations bill doesn’t include funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it does include our partners at the U.S. Coast Guard. Once all appropriations bills are finalized for FY2026, we expect the President’s budget to be released for FY2027.

       
       
      Florida Boaters Can Now Take Free
      State-Approved Boating Safety Course
      A recent press release from our friends at BoatUS

      The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water has launched the only free interactive boating safety course for Florida recreational boaters. The course, which is approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and meets state boating safety education requirements, can be taken at the student’s own pace. After passing the exam, they can print their own certificate of completion for immediate use and will receive a lifetime card from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.  

      The course provides video demonstrations and sample common boating situations for students to interact with to better understand how to evaluate real-world instances. The learning experience includes storylines where the student “boats” to various places and includes interactive learning tools like flashcards and drag-and-drop features to enhance learning and retention. Course-takers will be able to design and name the virtual boat that takes them through the course and map how far they’ve “traveled” within it. 

      In the state of Florida, anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, who operates a vessel powered by 10 horsepower or more must pass an approved boating safety course and have in his/her possession photographic identification and proof of boating safety education completion issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 

      The online BoatUS Foundation boating safety course and exam are approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard as exceeding the minimum requirements for the National Recreational Boating Safety Program. 

      “NASBLA approval of our Florida Boating Safety Course is a meaningful investment in boater safety, said Lynne O’Hearn, Program Manager at BoatUS Foundation. “Boater education is one of the most effective ways to prevent accidents, and this course gives Florida boaters the opportunity to build their skills to better enjoy Florida waterways safely.”  

      To take the course, visit BoatUS.org/Florida. For more information about Florida boating safety education, visit myfwc.com/boating/safety-education.

       
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      Copyright © 2026. Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association. All rights reserved.

      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. 

      Contact:
      Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association
      5a Market |  Beaufort, SC 29906
      (843) 379-1151 |  atlanticintracoastal.org
       

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