The U.S. House has passed the 2020 Water Resources Development Act Legislation. Soy Transportation Coalition Executive Director Mike Steenhoek says it’s critical to pass WRDA measures every two years in order to have proper upkeep of inland waterways and locks and dams.
He says passage of the House WRDA measure is the initial step needed in upgrading inland waterways.
Steenhoek says what’s really positive in this House bill is the change in the cost share to where the federal government now picks up 65 percent of the cost of waterway projects. He says when the feds provide more money it expedites the movement of those projects.
The need for the lock and dam upgrade is apparent especially when it’s noted that most of those locks and dams were built in the 1920s and 1930s and have far exceeded their 50 year design lifespan.
