NCGA
Applauds Introduction of WRDA Legislation that Includes Lock Modernization
Provisions (4-06-05)
The National
Corn Growers Association (NCGA) applauds the Senate for introduction
today of the Water Resources Development Act of 2005 (WRDA), which
includes legislation authorizing seven new locks for the Upper Mississippi
and Illinois rivers.
The legislation
was introduced by Sens. Kit Bond (R-Mo.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.),
John Warner (R-Va.), David Vitter (R-La.), Charles Grassley (R-Iowa),
Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Jim Talent (R-Mo.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.),
George Voinovich (R-Ohio), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), John Cornyn (R-Texas),
John Thune (R-S.D.), Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Ark.),
Barack Obama (D-Ill.), and Pete Domenici (R-N.M.).
“NCGA
is very pleased with the Senate’s hard work on this important
issue and we thank Senator Bond and the other sponsors for their
dedication helping to resolving our river infrastructure problem,”
said NCGA President Leon Corzine. “The authorization of seven
locks is a major step toward restoring the competitive advantage
that a modern, well-maintained river system provides. Lock modernization
has been one of NCGA’s key issues for more than a decade,
and we look forward to quick Senate passage of WRDA.”
Regarding the bill, Bond said, “We should do--simply for the
future--what our predecessors did for the present and build a system
designed to improve our competitiveness, our standard of living,
and environmental protection. Without a competitive transportation
system, the promise of expanded trade and commercial growth is empty,
job opportunities are lost, and we will be unprepared for the challenges
of this new century.”
The legislation
includes authorization for seven new 1,200-foot locks and authorizes
an expansive ecosystem restoration program for the Mississippi River
basin area. The bill also includes immediate implementation of small
scale measures, such as guide-wall extensions and helper boats,
to help alleviate congestion, as well as authorization for a major
ecosystem restoration project.
The lock modernization
provisions in the 2005 WRDA bill are based on S. 2470 from the 108th
Congress, which NCGA fully supported.
“It’s
important to note that WRDA is not just a Midwest issue,”
said Corzine. “It affects the entire United States. WRDA authorizes
projects across the nation, from San Francisco Bay to Long Island
Sound. The lock modernization project is one component of this larger
legislation.”
Reform of the
Corps of Engineers continues to be a point of debate in Congress.
However, provisions developed in the last session by Sens. Landrieu
and Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) to address Corps reform are included
in the new bill and are supported by the industries that rely on
the waterways to transport their goods. According to NCGA, the Cochran-Landrieu
provisions are key to passage of WRDA and maintaining a robust water
resources program in the United States.
Corzine noted
that NCGA and other grassroots organizations concerned about rural
America acknowledge much work remains to be done. “Failure
to get WRDA to the president’s desk this year will have dire
consequences for corn farmers and agriculture as well as rural America.”
he said.
“The waterways
infrastructure on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers was
built in the 1930s with a life expectancy of 50 years; frequent
delays by these antiquated locks are hurting our family farmers,”
Corzine said. “Additional transportation costs to farmers
caused by the poor condition of these locks may soon grow to 17
cents per bushel.”
Additionally,
failure to modernize the locks may result in nearly $562 million
in lost farm income, a decrease of nearly $264 million in exports
and $416 million lost due to lower commodity prices and decreased
domestic demand, according to the Evans Study on the Economic Impact
of Increased Congestion on the Upper Mississippi .
Mark-up of the
bill is tentatively scheduled for April 13.
NCGA issued an action alert to its grower members March 31 in anticipation
of the introduction of WRDA. To send a letter encouraging your senators
and congressmen to support WRDA’s lock modernization measures,
click
here.