Federal update: GOMESA cap raise helps CPRA prospects but continuing resolutions could slow Corps funding
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Summary
DOTV’s Neil McMillan told the board the GOMESA cap raise and new offshore leasing may boost coastal revenue, but continuing resolutions and shutdown risks delay Corps funding decisions and FEMA reimbursements, introducing schedule uncertainty for some CPRA projects.
Neil McMillan of DOTV provided a federal funding update highlighting policy and funding developments that affect CPRA’s project pipeline.
McMillan said the recent increase in the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) cap and renewed offshore lease activity improved revenue prospects for coastal projects. "We finally raised it," he said in reference to the GOMESA cap raise, and he noted that additional lease sales could increase funds available to Gulf States.
At the same time, McMillan warned that continuing resolutions and the risk of government shutdowns complicate Army Corps funding for many projects. He said Corps discretion under continuing resolutions limits new discretionary funding, which can delay project elements that require congressional appropriation. He also cited a delayed FEMA reimbursement for Hurricane Zeta damage on the West Levee Headland as an example of how federal processing delays can affect CPRA schedules.
McMillan flagged opportunities, including CWPPRA reauthorization, potential increases in funding through tax‑base adjustments for the coastal wetland program, and early proposals for a coastal projects trust fund modeled on the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. He also described permitting reform efforts (the SPEED Act) as a bipartisan area where progress could improve project delivery timelines.
Board members and federal staff discussed next steps for congressional engagement, and McMillan encouraged the delegation to prioritize coastal requests in upcoming appropriations and authorization cycles.