03.16.11

Durbin Meets with Illinois Farm Groups to Discuss Agriculture Priorities

Senator pledges to work with Committee to focus on improving lock and dam projects in the upcoming WRDA Reauthorization

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Corn Growers and the Illinois Soybean Association to discuss agricultural priorities including improving the infrastructure along the Mississippi River which is the backbone of Illinois’ waterway transportation system – transporting $12 billion worth of products each year, including over 1 billion bushels of grain to ports around the world.

 

 

After today’s meeting, Durbin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water, pledged his support for improving our nation’s waterways system in a letter to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

 

 

“Shipping via barge keeps exports competitive and reduces transportation costs. That’s good for producers and consumers. More than half of Illinois’ annual corn crop and 75% of all U.S. soybean exports travel via the Upper Mississippi and Illinois River,” wrote Durbin. “But the system of locks and dams along the Upper Mississippi that makes all of this possible is in desperate need of modernization. The current system was built 70 years ago and desperately needs to be updated to account for modern barging.”

 

 

 

[Text of the letter below]

 

 

March 16, 2011

 

The Honorable Barbara Boxer                    The Honorable James M. Inhofe

Chairman                                                Ranking Member

Committee on Environment                       Committee on Environment and

Public Works                                            Public Works

456 Dirksen Senate Office Building             410 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510                              Washington, DC 20510

456 Dirksen Senate Office Building             410 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510                              Washington, DC 20510

 

Dear Chairwoman Boxer and Ranking Member Inhofe:

 

America’s inland waterways system is vital to our economy and serves as a major component of the nation’s intermodal transportation network. Unfortunately, a troubling lack of upkeep within this system has crippled our ability to move goods in a safe and efficient manner. I write to ask your Committee to consider the significance of locks and dams to Illinois’ commerce and to carefully consider options, such as those developed by the Inland Waterways Users Board, for stabilizing the long term viability of the infrastructure.

 

 

Of particular concern is our deteriorating lock and dam infrastructure along the Mississippi River, which cannot meet the demands of a 21st century economy. The Mississippi River is the backbone of our waterway transportation system and transports $12 billion worth of products each year, including over 1 billion bushels of grain to ports around the world. This efficient river transportation is vital to Illinois. Shipping via barge keeps exports competitive and reduces transportation costs. That’s good for producers and consumers. More than half of Illinois’ annual corn crop and 75 percent of all U.S. soybean exports travel via the Upper Mississippi and Illinois River.

 

 

But the system of locks and dams along the Upper Mississippi that make all of this possible are in desperate need of modernization. The current system was built 70 years ago and desperately needs to be updated to account for modern barging. Many of the older locks are only 600 feet in length, while most current barge tows using the waterway are twice as long. That means these goods take twice as long to get down river and into the marketplace.

 

 

The Inland Waterways Users Board, with help from the Corps, has studied ways to address this mounting problem. After 18 months of planning, the Board submitted a unanimously approved proposal to the Corps, which provides options not only for fully funding the needs of the waterway system, but for prioritizing projects so that they are completed in a timely and cost-efficient manner. While many of the Board’s recommendations can be achieved through administrative action, others are subject to Congressional approval. As the Environment and Public Works Committee explores new ways to improve the inland waterways system in the upcoming reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act, I respectfully encourage you to give these proposed ideas due consideration.

 

 

Addressing the infrastructure needs of our inland waterways system is of significant national interest. Improving our ability to use this system will help relieve traffic on our highways and railroads, reduce carbon emissions, and put Americans back to work.

 

 

I appreciate your consideration of this important issue.