Thursday, the Senate unanimously passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, also known as S. 4367. The Senate’s version of the bill, supported by Illinois Senators Richard Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, includes provisions for lock and dam improvement along the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. IL Corn thanks Sen. Durbin and Duckworth for their investment in the state’s waterways infrastructure.

The Senate WRDA 2024 bill (Section 109) permanently adjusted the inland waterways cost-share for construction and major rehabilitation projects to 75% general revenues/25% Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF) (from 65%/35%). It also provided 100% full Federal funding for projects funded in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The funding will allow for continued improvements to be made on Lock and Dam 25, on the Illinois-Missouri border.

The House of Representatives passed its WRDA legislation on July 22, but the bill did not include any inland waterways provision. Now, the Senate EPW Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will begin the conference process to resolve differences between the two bills.

Lock and dam improvements are critical to grain exports in Illinois. Over 50% of Illinois corn is transported out of state every year. Help strengthen our collective voice on the urgency and importance of lock and dam modernization in WRDA 2024. Please share your support alongside the Waterways Council, Inc and tell your House representative to support the lock and dam provision.