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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
Mimi Ricketts, NCGA, 636-733-9004
NCGA Applauds
Introduction of WRDA Legislation that Includes Lock Modernization Provisions
ST. LOUIS (April 6, 2005)--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 on 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.), 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 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.
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 caused 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.
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The National Corn Growers Association mission is to create and increase
opportunities for corn growers. NCGA represents nearly 33,000 members,
26 affiliated state corn grower organizations and hundreds of thousands
of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs. |