NCGA Urges Members to Press for WRDA Passage During Congressional Recess (5-30-06)

The Memorial Day holiday may be the official kick off to the lazy days of summer, but for National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) members it is a signal to put their grassroots know-how into action by contacting their elected senators and representatives and stress the importance of passing the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) upon their return to Capitol Hill June 5.

“With senators in their home states this week, corn growers have a great opportunity to engage their congressional leaders on the need for modernization of the nation’s waterway infrastructure,” said Lisa Kelley, NCGA director of public policy. “As the trusted expert on key NCGA issues, this can be an opportunity to relate to your legislator how this impacts your livelihood, state the reasons why this issue is important on both a national and local level and continue to build a strong relationship with your legislator.”

Kelley noted progress has occurred moving the bill forward; however, procedural requirements necessary to bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote were not met prior to the Memorial Day recess. Work to finalize these necessary procedural requirements will continue this week to ready the bill for floor action sometime in June.

Kelley also highlighted that establishing a working relationship with your elected officials is very important. The trust and dialogue exchanged on a number of issues makes corn growers strong advocates for agriculture. WRDA is a top priority for NCGA, and all corn growers stand to gain from infrastructure improvements authorized in the bill.

“The national scope of WRDA has led 81 senators calling for action on this legislation immediately,” she said. “NCGA urges growers to emphasize to elected officials that lock and dam modernization on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers is way overdue, and it’s time legislation paves the way for corn growers to remain competitive in world markets.”