Oberstar Makes Good on WRDA as Priority, Notes NCGA (3-15-07)

The Water Resources Development Act, legislation that failed in the 109th Congress, has made a splash in the 110th, according to the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). Following through on a promise to corn growers last fall, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar introduced the legislation Tuesday, which made its way favorably in and out of subcommittee. It is expected to pass through the full committee today.

H.R. 1495 includes much needed and much overdue infrastructure improvements to the Upper Mississippi and Illinois River System as well as major ecosystem restoration provisions, according to NCGA President Ken McCauley.
 
"Corn growers are encouraged by this swift action and hope that it yields positive results towards passage of this legislation,” said McCauley. “As this county’s agriculture industry expands its opportunities, it is even more critical to ensure reinvestment into our inland waterways infrastructure in order to meet the increasing demands of the global marketplace. Congress must pass a WRDA bill before these opportunities are lost.”
 
According to the bill language, funding levels would be similar to last year’s levels, authorizing $1.79 billion for seven 1200 foot locks, $1.58 billion for environmental restoration and $235 million for small-scale navigation upgrades.
 
Reauthorization for the WRDA bill is usually done every two years; however, WRDA has been stalled in Congress for more than seven years.
 
“In those seven years of stalled action, congestion on the already over-crowded highways, railways and the waterway system has compounded,” said McCauley. “Along with the aging system (nearly 80 years old), shippers of commodities other consumer products have felt the crunch. The outdated locks cannot accommodate modern barging practices and have forced barges to use time-consuming and dangerous double-locking procedures.”
 
The legislation is expected to be considered on the House floor in the coming weeks.