WASHINGTON – The South Carolina congressional delegation has requested the highest level of funding possible for the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project in the Fiscal Year 2018 Army Corps Work Plan.

The letter was signed by South Carolina Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, and U.S. Representatives Mark Sanford, Joe Wilson, Jeff Duncan, Trey Gowdy, Ralph Norman, James Clyburn and Tom Rice.

“The 52-foot Charleston Harbor Deepening Project is a model of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) SMART Planning process. The project is currently years ahead of schedule and under budget.  Local port officials secured an Advanced Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) with the Army Corps of Engineers to allow the use of local funds to cover construction costs in the event of delays in federal funding.  However, these local funds will only go so far,” wrote the South Carolina delegation members.

They continued, “Collaborative, proactive projects, like the Charleston Port deepening, are in the best interest of American taxpayers and present a great avenue for growing the nation's economy by investing in our infrastructure.  That is why we unequivocally support the highest possible funding level for deepening the port in this year's Work Plan. 

The full text of the letter is below.

March 01, 2018

 

The Honorable R.D. James

Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works)

108 Army Pentagon

Washington, DC 20310-0108

Lieutenant General Todd T. Semonite

Commanding General and Chief of Engineers

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

441 G. Street, NW

Washington, DC 20314-1000

Dear Secretary James and General Semonite:

As Congress moves to complete the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Appropriations Omnibus, we know that you are also working to finalize the details of the FY 2018 Army Corps' Work Plan. Our hope is that your Work Plan will advocate project funding levels consistent with the Administration's stated goal of prioritizing projects with substantial local or state investment. The Port of Charleston Deepening Project, with $300 million in state-level funding, is clearly the type of project that meets the Administration's objective.

The 52-foot Charleston Harbor Deepening Project is a model of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) SMART Planning process. The project is currently years ahead of schedule and under budget.  Local port officials secured an Advanced Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) with the Army Corps of Engineers to allow the use of local funds to cover construction   costs in the event of delays in federal funding.  However, these local funds will only go so far.

We greatly appreciate the USACE's naming Charleston a new construction start and allocating $17.5 million in the 2017 Work Plan. The Charleston Harbor Deepening project will set a new standard for future projects, demonstrating the effectiveness and success of both the SMART Planning process and committed non-federal entities. The extent to which the Charleston project defines projects moving forward cannot be undervalued. To this end, we respectfully encourage the USACE to include project funding of$90 million in the FY 2018 Work Plan- allowing the Charleston project to stay on time and on budget.

Collaborative, proactive projects, like the Charleston Port deepening, are in the best interest of American taxpayers and present a great avenue for growing the nation's economy by investing in our infrastructure. That is why we unequivocally support the highest possible funding level for deepening the port in this year's Work Plan.

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,        

 

Lindsey O. Graham                                                    Tim Scott

United States Senator                                                  United States Senator 

                                   

Joe Wilson                                                                   Jeff Duncan

Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress  

 

Trey Gowdy                                                                Mark Sanford

Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress  

 

Ralph Norman                                                            James E. Clyburn

Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress  

 

Tom Rice                                            

Member of Congress