NCGA Applauds Hulshof’s
Introduction of House Locks Bill (7-8-04)
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) today praised Rep.
Kenny Hulshof (R-Mo.) for introducing the House companion bill
to S. 2470, the Senate bill calling for the construction of new
navigation locks on the upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers.
Like the Senate bill, the House version recommends the construction
of seven new 1,200-foot locks and the immediate construction of
small-scale measures. Additionally, the bill calls for ecosystem
restoration measures in the upper Mississippi River basin.
Ron Fitchhorn, an Illinois
farmer and chairman of NCGA’s
Production and Stewardship Action Team, said corn growers across
the country are encouraged by the recent congressional action on
lock modernization legislation.
“NCGA thanks Rep. Hulshof and the other 17 co-sponsors of
the bill for continuing to push for locks,” he said. “We
applaud the continuing work of congressional leaders on this issue,
including the Senate Environmental and Public Works (EPW) Committee’s
recent approval of a WRDA bill containing lock modernization language.
We’re very optimistic that WRDA will be enacted soon.”
The House bill authorizes $1.46 billion for the new locks, with
half of the funding coming from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund.
New locks would be built at Locks 20, 21, 22, 24 and 25 on the
upper Mississippi River and at La Grange and Peoria on the Illinois
River. Additional funding would be provided for small-scale measures,
such as mooring facilities and switchboats. The legislation also
provides $1.46 billion for ecosystem restoration throughout the
upper Mississippi River basin.
The House bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to file
implementation reports every four years to congressional authorizing
committees, which include the Senate EPW Committee and House Transportation
and Infrastructure Committee. In addition, advisory boards comprised
of representatives from state and federal agencies, landowners,
environmental advocacy groups, commodity organizations and navigation
industry advocacy groups will be formed to oversee projects.
Fitchhorn said the navigation project will create more than 30,000
jobs, spur an increase in farm income and alleviate costly shipping
delays. Economic studies show failure to make the upgrades would
impact the Midwestern economy and increase the federal deficit
by $1.5 billion.
In testimony earlier
today before the House Mississippi River Caucus, Fitchhorn said
lock modernization would also ensure farmers
continue to be competitive on a national and global basis. “If
we fail to move forward, the world will eventually look elsewhere
for basic food commodities,” he said. “That’s
something corn growers across the country cannot accept.”