IL CORN SUPPORTS TWO NEW WATERWAYS BILLS

Tricia Braid

Mar 22, 2013  |  Today's News

Illinois Corn Growers Association President Paul Taylor, a family farmer from Esmond, IL, issued two statements on Monday regarding Waterways Bills. They are as follows:

ICGA Statement Regarding Water Infrastructure Now Public-Private Partnership Act

WASHINGTON, DC—Illinois Corn Growers Association President Paul Taylor, a family farmer from Esmond, IL, issued the following statement today regarding the Water Infrastructure Now Public-Private Partnership Act introduced last week by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL).

“The Illinois Corn Growers Association will support the bipartisan, bicameral Water Infrastructure Now Public-Private Partnership Act. We thank Senator Dick Durbin and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, and also Congresswoman Cheri Bustos and Congressman Rodney Davis for putting together this bill to address a longstanding backlog of work to upgrade and modernize the transportation infrastructure on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.

Improving the waterways infrastructure has been a goal of Illinois Corn for some time. We’re certainly optimistic that this Congress will understand how important our nation’s waterways are to our overall economy. This bill would provide for an innovative partnership between public and private stakeholders to get the work on the rivers accomplished.

The time has long passed to think about making these upgrades. It’s now time to get the work done. The 2012 drought and the subsequent low-water levels on the Mid-Mississippi gave us a glimpse at what could happen if there was a river shutdown. We’re glad that this group of Senators and members of Congress are leading the charge to improve our waterways and keep America moving.”

ICGA Statement Regarding Mississippi River Navigation Sustainment Act

WASHINGTON, DC—Illinois Corn Growers Association President Paul Taylor, a family farmer from Esmond, IL, issued the following statement today regarding the Mississippi River Sustainment Act introduced last week by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representative Bill Enyart (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL).

“The Illinois Corn Growers Association is extremely grateful to Senator Durbin, Congressman Enyart, and Congressman Davis for their leadership in introducing the Mississippi River Sustainment Act. It is gratifying to see a bipartisan effort in Washington, DC, that recognizes the importance of the Mississippi River to our nation’s economy. ICGA will work to support this legislation.

Last year’s extreme drought had many consequences, not the least of which was the low-water levels on the Mid-Mississippi River earlier this winter. The low-water impacted not only corn farmers, but all river transportation stakeholders, and by extension, consumers and those employed directly and indirectly by the river transportation industry.

However unfortunate the drought and the low-water levels, the situation did provide for an excellent opportunity to illustrate the damage that can be done if the Mississippi River were to shut down due to natural or man-made causes. It’s obvious that folks in Washington, DC, were paying attention. This Bill represents a common-sense approach to learning from what happened this winter and making improvements throughout the system so that in the future, we can do a better job of keeping America moving.”