By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

PEORIA, Ill. — Though the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 did not provide funding for the repair of aged locks and dams on the Illinois and upper Mississippi rivers, some money has been recently appropriated to begin studying needed repairs called for by the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).

“We were able to get in a supplemental appropriations bill (passed a few weeks ago) $8 million for the engineering and planning work for our locks and dams,” said Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.), who was appointed to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as well as the Highways and Transit Subcommittee shortly after assuming his duties in Washington.

“Hopefully next year when we go to bat with the transportation bill, I’ll be able to get some money for the actual construction.”
Finding support for WRDA funding from other members of Congress – especially those who do not have waterways in their districts – can be challenging, Schock admitted, saying he is constantly striving to make WRDA “relevant” to other legislators.

“In fact, one of the things that I found very interesting when I got to Congress was how few (legislators) actually have agriculture as the predominant industry in their districts,” he said. “I am one of (only) 61 congressmen and -women who (do).

“It’s been very important to me to work to try and convince some of my neighbors from more urban centers that they don’t get their fruit from the grocery store, and that there is an intrinsic value to not only the farm bill but supporting the agriculture industry and keeping it strong and viable.”

Schock spoke briefly regarding foreign trade issues, calling trade agreements with Colombia and other nations that are on the table important to keeping U.S. agricultural commodity prices and demand strong.

“We have only 5 percent of the world’s population ... I think it makes pretty good sense for us to sell to the other 95 percent,” he said.

Schock, 27, is the youngest member of Congress. He succeeded recently retired 18th Illinois District Rep. Ray LaHood, who was named to the post of U.S. Transportation Secretary.

Prior to his election to the 111th Congress, Schock served as the youngest member of the Illinois House. He attended Peoria Richwoods High School and graduated from Bradley University, also in Peoria, with a B.S. in finance.