By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), the long-debated and oft-criticized river transportation bill that calls for new locks on the upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers, took a major step toward becoming law when the U.S. Senate passed the legislation by a vote of 91-4.

The National Corn Growers Assoc. (NCGA), American Soybean Assoc. (ASA) and Illinois Corn Growers Assoc. (ICGA) were quick to laud the actions of the Senate, which overwhelmingly passed their version of the bill May 16.

“Corn growers are optimistic with the speed in which this legislation has been addressed so far,” said Ken McCauley, NCGA president. “However, we remain firm that this legislation is essential to the economy, and we urge the House and Senate to work together and get a final bill to the president.”

McCauley also acknowledged the efforts of the bill’s backers.

“NCGA commends Sen. Barbara Boxer, Sen. James Inhofe and members of the Environment and Public Works Committee for the strong bipartisan effort to move this bill forward.”

WRDA, which took seven years to be authorized by the House and Senate, calls for authorization of $14 billion in nationwide water resources projects, including the construction of seven new locks, ecosystem and wetlands restoration, beach restoration, port upgrade and flood control.

ASA called for a rapid merging of the Senate and House bills so soybean growers can realize long-awaited infrastructure improvements to the nation’s waterways that transport their crops to market.

“The Senate’s passage of (WRDA) is great news for soybean growers who have championed much-needed improvements on the Mississippi and Illinois waterways,” said ASA President Rick Ostlie. “Modern and efficient waterways and ports are essential to our economic well-being and international competitiveness.”

ASA praised the efforts of Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.), who have worked for many years to gain Senate approval for WRDA.

According to ASA, more than 75 percent of United States soybean exports head to world ports via the upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers.

“U.S. waterways are the most economical and environmentally friendly way to transport U.S. soybeans to both domestic and foreign markets,” Ostlie said. “More than half of our locks and dams have aged beyond their life cycle. Many are unable to handle today’s barges that are twice as long as when the system was built in the 1930s.

“Barge loads are being split, which causes higher transportation costs, lower commodity prices and fewer international sales for U.S. farmers.”

ICGA President Steve Ruh praised the speed with which the current Congress addressed WRDA.

“The new Congress said they would make this critical legislation a priority, and the 91-4 vote reflects the momentum this legislation possesses,” Ruh said. “WRDA has been a top priority for ICGA for more than a decade because these deteriorating locks affect our ability to compete globally in export markets.

“We estimate corn growers are already losing eight to 10 cents per bushel because of transportation delays. With increasing demand for corn and distillers’ dried grains from the ethanol industry, the negative economic impact on growers’ bottom line will only grow.”

Boxer wound up her comments on the floor by thanking agriculture, labor and waterways organizations that supported WRDA.

“From the corn growers to the carpenters … this bill is about making sure that the water resources infrastructure of the nation is up to the task,” said Boxer. “I’m smiling from ear to ear … it has been an amazing road.”

Bond and Midwest area members of Waterways Council, Inc. (formerly MARC 2000) hosted two press conferences Friday at the National Great Rivers Museum at the Mel Price Locks and Dam near Alton, Ill., and at Lock and Dam No. 22 in Hannibal, Mo., to mark passage of the historic bill.

The bill now moves to a House-Senate Conference Committee to rectify some differences in the two versions before being sent to President Bush for his signature.