ANKENY, Iowa — The U.S. House passage of the Water Resources Development Act is being applauded by ag groups as a good first step for the transportation bill.
“In the midst of all this political acrimony, it’s encouraging that at least something that is important to U.S. agriculture and the broader U.S. economy, is actually occurring,” said Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition.
Passing the bill and moving it to the president’s desk is only the first step for the bill.
“Having appropriations follow suit is always really the key obstacle and the real goal. That work remains and we will maintain focus on that,” Steenhoek said.
While language is different in the House and Senate versions of WRDA, Steenhoek said one common element is language that would have the federal government take on a greater share of the financial obligations for new construction and rehabilitation of locks and dams.
“The language is the same in the House and Senate, there are some small, subtle differences, but both of them talk about moving the cost-share ratio to 65% federal government and 35% Inland Waterways Trust Fund. That would be a greater federal obligation,” Steenhoek said.
The Inland Waterways Trust Fund is funded through a 29 cent per gallon tax on diesel fuel used by the barge industry on the country’s inland waterways, including the Mississippi, Ohio, Illinois and lower Missouri rivers and the intracoastal waterways of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.
Having the balance of the cost-share tilt toward a larger federal obligation would mean good news for waterway projects and lock and dam repairs and replacement.
“The goal is to expedite some of these projects to completion, so that’s good news and we are hopeful to see that come to fruition,” Steenhoek said.
The National Grain and Feed Association also applauded the House action on WRDA and the bipartisan cooperation that made it happen.
“To maintain American agriculture’s competitive transportation advantage against other countries, stakeholders must relentlessly make the case for continued investment in U.S. waterways infrastructure. Today’s bipartisan vote in the House brings Congress one step closer to achieving new WRDA legislation in 2020,” said Bobby Frederick, vice president of legislative affairs and public policy for NGFA.