Obama's reduced budget for the 2014 financial yearcould mean US ports will miss out on the predicted surge in cargo flowing through the Panama Canal after it is widened in 2014. The administration's proposal, released on 10 April, slashes by 28% the funding for the US Army Corps' Coastal Navigation Construction programme - used to deepen channels and harbors to accommodate post-Panamax vessels -from $151M proposed forFY13 to$ 108M in FY14. While the $890M Obama proposes to set aside next year to maintain current draught levels is $42M more than 2013, it falls far short of the level of spending recommended by Congress. Last year Capitol Hill lawmakers advised that the administration pay for maintenance by getting full use of the $1.6Bn collected from shippers through the Harbor Maintenance Tax. "On the one hand, we're pleased the administration has bumped up its budget request for vital navigation channel maintenance projects,"said AAPA president, Kurt Nagle.
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