16/05/14: NGFA Commends WRRDA Conference Committee for Completing Work on Crucial Legislation

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) commends the WRRDA conference committee for completing work on this crucial legislation.  This nation's inland waterways system is indispensable in providing U.S. agriculture with an efficient and cost-effective means for transporting agricultural products to overseas markets, and for importing fertilizer and other essential farm inputs essential for U.S. agricultural production.  "The waterways really are the gateway to how our nation helps feed the world," said NGFA President Randy Gordon.  "And recent rail service disruptions have magnified and reinforced the importance of the United States having an "all-of-the-above" transportation infrastructure policy that focuses on all modes - truck, rail, barge and vessel."

NGFA in particular commended the leadership of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster, R-Pa., Committee Ranking Member Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va., Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Bob Gibbs, R-Ohio, and Subcommittee Ranking Member Tim Bishop, D-N.Y., and Senate Envir

onment and Public Works Chairman Barbara Boxer, D-Calf. and Ranking Member David Vitter, R-La., for their work to complete this conference report and move this important legislation one step closer to completion.

The NGFA said the bill contains several key provisions important to agriculture, including one that changes the funding mix for completing the long-delayed and over-budget Olmstead lock-and-dam project on the Ohio River.  Under the new bill, the federal government would assume 85 percent of the cost of completing the project, with funds from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (comprised of barge diesel fuel user fees) used to finance the remaining 15 percent.  This change in the former 50:50 cost-share formula will free up approximately $56 million a year in industry-paid user fees to fund much-needed restoration to dilapidated locks on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois River System.  NGFA also pointed to reforms to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund that will make more money available for port-dredging activities, as well as numerous key reforms to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' operations designed to streamline its project-delivery process and promote fiscal responsibility.  NGFA said these improvements will help maintain U.S. agricultural competitiveness in world markets and ensure U.S. farmers receive needed crop inputs to produce grains, oilseeds and other agricultural commodities

The NGFA said it looks forward to working with both Houses of Congress to secure final passage and send the legislation to the President to be signed into law.

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine GFMT which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.