NCGA Continues Push for WRDA Passage (10-13-06)

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) urges members to contact their congressmen and ask them to secure passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) conference report before the 109th Congress adjourns at the end of the year.

“We are encouraging all corn growers to voice their support for lock modernization and ensure the momentum continues for passage of WRDA while members of Congress are in their home states,” said Ken McCauley, NCGA president. “We will all work to ensure WRDA leads the congressional agenda when Congress returns to Washington in November.”

NCGA has issued a Legislative Action Alert for WRDA. Visit www.ncga.com and click on the Action Alert icon in the upper left portion of the screen to contact your congressman’s office.

WRDA includes authorization for construction of seven 1,200 foot locks on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers, in addition to one of the largest and most extensive ecosystem restoration efforts. House and Senate conferees were unable to finalize a conference report before adjournment.

McCauley said NCGA accomplished previous legislative victories, such as passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, as a result of effective advocacy by corn growers and affiliated state organizations.

“We encourage our members to engage in the political process and voice concerns to decision makers on a state, local and federal level,” McCauley said. “It is what makes our growers’ voices so strong.