Senators,
Stakeholders Call for Lock Modernization Provisions in 2004 WRDA
(4-2-04)
In a congressional
hearing Wednesday on the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), lawmakers
and key stakeholder witnesses stressed the importance of modernizing
the aging locks and dams system, particularly on the Upper Mississippi
and Illinois rivers.
Several members of the
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) attended the hearing to show
the organization’s support for immediate action on WRDA legislation
that includes infrastructure improvement measures. Growers Martin
Barbre (Ill.), Jayne Glosemeyer (Mo.) and Warren Kemper (Iowa) were
on hand for the important proceedings, along with state and national
staff members.
During their testimonies,
former Indiana Rep. John Myers, Transportation and Infrastructure
Subcommittee Chairman Kit Bond (R-Mo.) and Senate Environment and
Public Works Committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-Okla.) painted a bleak
picture of the current state of waterways infrastructure. Failure
to upgrade the locks system will cause U.S. farmers to lose their
competitiveness in world grain markets, Myers said.
“Locks and dams are
getting older every day, and while the Corps (of Engineers) is diligently
attempting to maintain system reliability, there are currently not
enough funds to keep them in good working order,” said Myers,
who farms in Fountain County, Ind. “Where once we had a vibrant
‘third coast’ for the Midwest with the attendant reduction
of transportation costs, we now have a gradual loss of global competitive
advantage in grain exports, jobs and quality of life due to inaction.”
Myers said U.S. farmers
and other industries reliant on barge transportation face “grave
consequences if the Upper Miss needs are not addressed in a timely
fashion.” Citing economic impact studies conducted for NCGA
and other agriculture groups, he said if Congress fails to act, the
United States will lose 30,000 jobs and nearly 80 million bushels
of grain and soybean exports by 2020.
Bond also emphasized the
importance of modern lock facilities, stating, “In the Midwest
particularly, we need new locks to replace the aging infrastructure
on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Waterway…The time to act
is now.” In addition to providing a viable transportation system
for grain exports, Bond said lock modernization will provide 45 million
man-hours of construction work.
Inhofe challenged the subcommittee
to complete reauthorization of WRDA quickly so the full committee
can approve the legislation by the Memorial Day recess. The House
passed its version of WRDA, a $4.6 billion measure, last September.
The last WRDA was passed by Congress four years ago.
On a related note, Waterways
Council Inc. (WCI) recognized Bond Wednesday with its annual Leadership
Service Award. Throughout his more than 31 years of public service,
Bond has shown unwavering commitment to the nation’s ports and
commercial waterways system, according to WCI. The council is comprised
of more than 250 businesses and associations, including NCGA, that
advocate a modern and well-maintained waterways system.