Much Like the Locks, WRDA Crumbles, Notes NCGA (12-06-06)

Hopes for passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) this year came to an end as the Senate and House conferees fail to pass the legislation, notes the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). The effort to pass WRDA officially ended Tuesday when Senate and House conferees could not agree on compromise text.
 
NCGA President Ken McCauley remarked that WRDA, which would authorize construction of seven 1,200 foot locks as well as extensive ecosystem restoration on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, fell victim to politics and the congressional blame-game. 
 
“Pre-election promises that WRDA would be a key component of the lame duck congressional agenda were broken and corn growers are tired of broken promises on this important legislation,” said McCauley. “NCGA and state associations have worked for over 15 years to modernize our nation’s waterways infrastructure, partnering with industry, labor, and conservation groups in an effort to pass WRDA. This was a long-overdue bill that would address our failing infrastructure.”
 
WRDA was postponed in October with the promise that it would be a priority upon Congress’ return after the elections. The bill had significant bipartisan support in the Senate and in the House; the Senate passed the measure by voice vote and the House overwhelmingly passed its version 406-14. 
 
McCauley said without significant reinvestments and improvements, producers and consumers will face increases in operation and transportation costs in addition to decreasing export opportunities that will negatively impact U.S. global competitiveness.
 
“Our state organizations and our individual grower-members have long realized the national importance of this legislation and have banded together to keep the issue in front of their elected representatives,” said McCauley. “We appreciate their years of hard work and urge them to continue the effort.”

The light has not completely gone out for corn growers’ drive to get a WRDA bill. Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has already announced plans to make WRDA a priority next year when he takes over committee chairmanship in January. Oberstar said in a November press conference,"… If WRDA is not concluded, it will be at the top of our agenda.” 

NCGA looks to the next Congress to keep its new promise and demands swift action on WRDA legislation; a bill that is approaching now seven years past due, McCauley concluded. “We will aggressively seek assurance that Rep. Oberstar, who has pledged publicly to make WRDA a priority for the next Congress, will follow through. NCGA also looks forward to working with the new leadership in the Senate to move WRDA forward.”