Conferees are expected to complete the Water Resources Development Bill by May 1. That’s according to Waterways Council President Mike Toohey. He says there’s been positive movement lately on the legislation.

Toohey says the measure conferees are considering contains provisions for inland waterway navigation upgrades as well as a modern and efficient transportation system for commodities. He says the omnibus legislation passed in February provides significant funding for WRDA.

Toohey says that adds money to the inland waterway trust fund which is matched by federal general fund monies that goes to infrastructure construction. He says the user fund is important because each year it isn’t increased, 50 million to 76 million dollars in revenue that could be used for modernization of waterways is lost.