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Senate
Transportation Letter
June 25, 2002
The Honorable James
Jeffords
Chairman
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
Senate Dirksen 410
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Chairman Jeffords:
As the Senate Environment
and Public Works Committee drafts a Water Resources Development Act
(WRDA) for 2002, we respectfully request the bill include initial authorization
for lock and dam modernization and enhanced environmental restoration
on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.
Modernizing the
inland waterway transportation system remains a high priority for the
Upper Mississippi river basin and for agricultural, commercial and labor
interests that rely on the river to transport their products. In addition
to strong grassroots support for this endeavor, our state legislatures
have passed resolutions endorsing lock and dam modernization, ecosystem
restoration and Congressional action.
Agriculture and
related industries in our states remain competitive in world markets,
despite higher production costs, because of the efficiencies inherent
in river transport. More than 60 percent of all grain exports move from
the Upper Mississippi, making this competitive advantage vital to their
ability to operate their business. Over 400,000 full- and part-time
jobs in our basin are connected to the river. Without modernization,
Midwest producers will not be able to compete in anticipated world grain
export growth. Furthermore, a recent study estimates the loss of 30,000
jobs nationwide, $562 million annually in lost farm income and $185
million annually in lost state and local tax receipts if the lock and
dam system is not upgraded. American farmers are experiencing some of
the worst financial conditions in recent memory. Providing U.S. agricultural
producers every opportunity to export their products to world markets
is essential for their financial well-being and future viability.
While it is important
to consider economic benefits, we must also protect the ecosystem of
the river. A cooperative solution can meet the needs of farmers and
waterway users while at the same time improve the environment and stem
the decline of the Rivers’ ecosystems through enhanced authorities.
Restoring the ecosystem is not mutually exclusive to lock modernization.
After 10 years and
$60 million of study, and with an Interim Report due this summer, we
firmly believe that the time has come to take action, and we urge you
to support initial authorization to begin the modernization process
and enhance the authorities to address broader ecosystem restoration.
Without immediate action, the health of both the agriculture economy
and river ecosystem will continue to decline.
Thank you for your
consideration of this critically important issue.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
Jean Carnahan (D-MO)
Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-MO)
Peter Fitzgerald (R-IL)
Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Charles Grassley (R-IA)
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