Iowa corn growers Dean Taylor (far left) and Warren Kemper (second from left) flew to Washington, D.C., to join other WRDA advocates to educate congress on the importance of upgrading the waterway infrastructure on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Tade Sullivan (second from right) and NCGA Director of Public Policy Lisa Kelley (far right) joined Taylor and Kemper for their visits to Capitol Hill Senate offices.

Effort to Pass WRDA Gathers More Senate Support, Notes NCGA (2-9-06)

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and Iowa growers Warren Kemper and Dean Taylor joined members from MARC2000 this week on the first of many “fly-ins” scheduled to encourage passage of S. 728, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) this spring.

WRDA authorizes the construction of seven new 1,200-foot locks and 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.
 
“We have to get a WRDA bill done now,” said Kemper. “We have a water infrastructure system that deteriorates more and more everyday, and there have not been any congressional action. If we do not take actions to improve these outdated locks, we are risking a complete shutdown on the rivers, which will certainly impact this nation’s agriculture producers and its economy.”
 
Over the past two days, growers have walked the Senate halls touting the necessity of upgrades to one of the country’s oldest and most outdated transportation infrastructures. The group also visited Senate offices, thanking members for their support of a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-N.V.), urging that floor time be scheduled to vote on S. 728, citing that the investment in the nation’s water resources and transportation infrastructure is urgently needed.
 
The letter was signed by 78 senators; however, there are 81 supporters of moving the legislation to the floor. Sens. Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) and Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) indicated they were willing to sign on, but did so after the letter was finalized for delivery to Senate leadership. Additionally, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) said he will send a separate letter to Senate leadership that requests moving WRDA to the floor. 
 
“We applaud the effort of the senators to bring this vital legislation to the floor,” Kemper said. “The fact that we have this much support in the Senate should send a very clear message to both the leadership in the Senate and President George W. Bush’s administration that this legislation is urgently needed. Corn growers need to keep the pressure on to get this passed.”

To view the Senate WRDA letter, please click on the following link.