I realize after watching another last-minute showdown to fund the government and yet another year Congress failed to do their job passing the 13 appropriations bills, it’s clearly all about the money. Who me, naïve?
Members of Congress managed to keep the government funded before heading out for a two- week recess, but there are still plenty of things happening within federal agencies.
When it comes to government funding, there are still plenty of ways members were able to steer funds to key projects in their home states and districts. Farm-state lawmakers guided more than $753 million in USDA funding in this fiscal year’s $26.22 billion Agriculture appropriations bill. More funds are needed to restore the sad state of America’s rural roads, bridges and culverts. And a quick look at the priorities of what the people who build and support the safety of America’s dams are: more money!
What about the funds that will be needed to fix the Key Bridge, about 20 miles from where I sit now? New construction technology, incentive contracts, state and local partnerships and global engineering will all be applied to rebuild the bridge in record time.