Five CWIFP Amendments

The USACE’s Corps Water Infrastructure Financing Program (CWIFP) is currently funded to provide $7.5 billion of loan volume to eligible dam safety and levee projects. Five simple and non-controversial economic amendments to CWIFP’s statutory framework would allow the program to offer significantly improved benefits to eligible projects at little or no additional cost to federal taxpayers.

CWIFP is a section of EPA WIFIA’s statutory framework. However, the amendments would specifically apply only to dam safety and levee projects and/or the CWIFP section. This narrow scope reflects the primary goal of CWIFP implementation and is intended to minimize potential opposition.

Three of the five amendments have directly applicable precedents in the TIFIA and CIFIA federal loan programs or codify established practice at WIFIA.

The amendments can be included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), a biennial bill focused on USACE activities. It is expected that WRDA 2024 will be developed next spring with passage in the late summer or early fall. Alternative legislative paths are also possible.

CWIFP may require additional Congressional action or a non-economic amendment to restore eligibility restricted by the FCRA Criteria. This topic is covered in a separate FCRA Non-Federal page.

Links to relevant InRecap articles and posts are below.

Overview

Now is the time to amend WIFIA Water Finance & Management October 2023

Long-term federal financing is critical for US dam rehabilitation The Hill January 2023

Five CWIFP Economic Amendments: One-Pager

CWIFP’s Initial Market Might Be Tough

Dam Finance Roundtable

Five CWIFP Enhancements for Dam Finance

Three Ideas for Federal Financing of Dam Removal

Extended Term and Deferral

Extend WIFIA’s Maximum Term…As a First Step Water Finance & Management August 2022

Extending WIFIA loan term would benefit stormwater assets WaterWorld Magazine October 2022