WRDA
Passage Gains Momentum in Dear Colleague Letter (10-3-05)
Legislation authorizing new locks for the Upper Mississippi and
Illinois Rivers as part of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)
gathered more steam late last week as a coalition of senators pushed
for the legislation to be taken up quickly on the Senate floor in
a Dear Colleague letter, noted the National Corn Growers Association
(NCGA).
The letter, lead by Sens. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.)
was signed by 44 senators and sent to Senate Majority Leader Bill
Frist (R-Tenn.) and Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) Sept. 30.
“As one of our top legislation priorities, corn growers are
aggressively advocating for Senate passage of WRDA this year,” said
Bill Chase, NCGA Production and Stewardship Action Team chairman. “It’s
unfortunate that other more pressing legislation keeps pushing this
bill off the calendar, but as recent events have shown, upgrades
to the navigation systems, waterways infrastructure, along with environmental
restoration is more necessary than ever before. This country’s
ability to ship commodities and other products, in addition to the
nation’s overall economy, hinges on efficient and reliable
transportation infrastructure.”
Chase noted that river modernization is critical for inputs, such
as fertilizer, to be able to be brought up the river especially as
growers plan for spring plantings.
NCGA as part of their continuing effort to move WRDA legislation
also signed onto a National Waterways Alliance letter along with
375 other groups and industry associations.
NCGA’s Director of Public Policy, Lisa Kelley said the collaboration
of a diverse coalition which includes agriculture, labor, shipping,
manufacturing, recreation, and economic development groups and the
Audubon Society, is having an effect in Washington.
“NCGA along with its coalition partners are working side by
side to familiarize all senators of the many economic and environmental
benefits in the bill as a result,” Kelley said
NCGA continues to encourage corn growers to contact their senators
and urge for quick passage of WRDA. Growers can log onto the NCGA
Legislative Action Center and send a letter.