CCFB Members see the Water Resource Develoment Act at work
CCFB Members see the Water Resource Development Act at work
By, Kirk L. Builta, Information Director
Champaign County Farm Bureau
In early August, the United States House of Representatives passed the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA), a bill that provides $18 billion in funding to construct seven new locks on the Mississippi and
Illinois rivers. On August 8, Champaign County Farm Bureau members and others who attended the Illinois Corn Grower’s Barge Tours got to witness first-hand, the future of our river transportation systems.
Fifteen Farm Bureau members from
Champaign
County traveled to Alton, IL where they were joined by over 100 other producers and elected officials from both Illinois and
Missouri . Congressman from both sides of the river were in attendance to get a first-hand look at the current lock on the
Mississippi River .
The tour followed a press conference where proponents of WRDA thanked the U.S. House of Representatives for supporting the Act. Those speaking in favor of the Act encouraged citizens to contact their Senators and the White House to encourage the passage of WRDA to become law.
The Water Resource Management Act provides $18 billion dollars in funding to construct locks on the Mississippi and
Illinois
Rivers . Half of this money will come from the Treasury while the remainder will be generated from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund. A large portion of which will come from barge operators who are taxed 20 cents/gallon of barge fuel used through the Trust Fund. $15 billion dollars of this funding will go directly to the environmental restoration of the river front.
© 2008 Champaign County Farm Bureau
