WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Grain and Feed Assoc. (NGFA) is asking Congress to fully fund waterways infrastructure maintenance and operations under existing programs during the coming fiscal year.

 

Calling U.S. inland waterways and ports “true economic difference-makers that support American workers and products,” NGFA recently joined with more than 20 other agribusiness and agricultural producer organizations that participate in the Agricultural Transportation Working Group in drafting a letter to House and Senate appropriators. It asks for continued funding support for America’s declining inland waterways infrastructure. NGFA Director of Legislative Affairs Bobby Frederick said the timing of the letter coincided with an April deadline the House had set for submissions of appropriations requests.

 

“It was certainly timely to be going before Congress and letting them know where agriculture stands on important infrastructure priorities. We want to stand and be counted,” said Frederick, a Champaign, Ill., native who recently served as the top aide to former Illinois Rep. Bobby Schilling (R-District 17). “We are falling behind on our infrastructure, while other countries are investing in theirs. Ag transportation (provides) a competitive advantage for us when it comes to trade, so we have to make sure we are investing to compete and, frankly, win out on the world stage.”

 

Waterways infrastructure improvements – particularly to locks and dams – is one of the top priorities for NGFA regarding fiscal year 2018 Congressional appropriations, largely due to the fact many of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-maintained structures have vastly outlived their intended 50-year life span.

 “We are really rolling the dice on our aging infrastructure,” noted Frederick.

 

In the letter, the groups specified four “action items” they would like to see from appropriators regarding waterways. The funding the groups seek is for already-existing programs and mechanisms, including the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF), which calls for matching government dollars on revenue generated from a 29-cent increase in the barge fuel tax paid by shippers and farmers.

 

“Our No. 1 priority is to see that Congressional appropriators make full use of the (IWTF),” Frederick said. “We have to make sure this money is spent on projects it is intended for and not (swept) for other projects.

 “In addition, we are asking appropriators to support the current funding level of $3.17 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ operations and maintenance

budget.”

 NGFA and the signatories, which include the American Farm Bureau Federation and American Soybean Assoc., also asked that spending targets for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund codified in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act are maintained at around $1.33 billion. Frederick said he hopes constituents will advocate for those priorities by contacting their legislators.

 

The letter served the purpose, too, of educating lawmakers on farmers’ infrastructure rehabilitation priorities in advance of legislation that would enable President Trump’s proposal to invest $1 trillion in U.S. infrastructure repair, including waterways.

 

“We want to point out that there are 25 authorized inland waterways projects that could be completed over the next decade for about $8.7 billion,” said Frederick. Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth said in April she is fully supportive of investments in the inland waterways system, especially the locks and dams on the Illinois and upper Mississippi rivers. She visited the Melvin Price lock and dam in Alton, saying an investment in rehabilitating the decaying facility will spur future economic movement. 

 

“Investing in Illinois’ outdated locks and dams ... will help ensure that Illinois companies remain competitive, and will make it easier for businesses and farmers to move their products across the nation,” said Duckworth, a Chicago Democrat and Army veteran.

 Her remarks earned the praise of Justin Durdan, a Utica farmer and president of the Illinois Corn Growers Assoc. (ICGA). “The river system in Illinois adds value to the Illinois corn crop. But just as easily as the value can be added, it can be lost if the waterways become unreliable or unusable,” he said.

 “We are hopeful that President Trump will include locks and dams on the upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers in his administration’s infrastructure plan. Senator Duckworth’s continued public support of the issue helps raise the visibility and encourages a bipartisan approach, which totally makes sense for something as basic as waterways infrastructure movements.”