2005 Year in Review

Legislators Instrumental In Passing River Locks Upgrade

Source: Judy Smith, Program Support Assistant, Illinois Soybean Association; Illinois Soybean Checkoff Board, 1605 Commerce Parkway, Bloomington, IL 61704, Phone: 309-663-7692, Fax: 309-663-6981, Julie Toohill at (309) 663-7692

Illinois lawmakers were instrumental in last week's U.S. House of Representatives' passage of H.R. 2864, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The bill approves new locks construction for the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers and passed through the House with a 406-14 vote.

Several Illinois legislators testified on behalf of WRDA passage, including Jerry Costello, Belleville; Rahm Emanuel, Chicago; Lane Evans, Rock Island; Ray LaHood, Peoria; John Shimkus, Collinsville; and Jerry Weller, Morris.

"We appreciate that these Representatives are passionate about the need to pass locks and dams legislation and testified on behalf of WRDA passage," says Earl Williams, Jr., soybean farmer from Cherry Valley and Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) president. "Soybean farmers have been asking for immediate authorization for construction of new locks on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers and our hard work is paying off."

WRDA legislation provides funding for construction of seven new 1,200-foot navigation locks, along with small-scale navigation improvements and ecosystem restoration on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. The current lock and dam system was constructed nearly 60 years ago and was designed for 600-foot barges. Today, most barge tows are 1,200-feet long, which require the tow to be split and sent through one section at a time. The delays increase transportation costs, pressure soybean prices, and disrupt export sales.

The key lock locations include 20, 21, 22, 24 and 25 on the Mississippi River, and Peoria and LaGrange locks on the Illinois Waterway. ISA has strongly supported the need for modernization so U.S. soybeans remain competitive in the world market. More than 75 percent of soy exports move to world ports via the river system.

"The Senate must now take up their version of WRDA legislation and we understand this may not occur until after the summer recess," says Williams. "That gives Illinois farmers ample opportunity to talk with our Senators and ask for their support, too."

by  Editor, theCity1.com
August 2, 2005