In Support of a New Lock and Dam Start in 2021

This week, the Illinois Corn Growers Association has reached out to each member of the Illinois Congressional delegation, asking for their support in encouraging the Army Corps of Engineers to include a new start for a construction project in their Work Plan for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Civil Works.

The effort was initiated by Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, whose district stretches for miles along the Mississippi River.

The encouragement to the Army Corps of Engineers includes an ask to build from a $4.5 million for preconstruction engineering and design (PED) of the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway System projects in the FY20 Work Plan and allow that momentum to continue.

Lock and dam projects are included and prioritized in the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP), which was authorized in 2007 and allows the Corps to address by navigation and ecosystem restoration in an integrated approach. NESP would construct new locks at seven existing sites and provides comprehensive ecosystem restoration for the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.

NEPS maintains broad, bipartisan support in Congress.

Inland waterways infrastructure remains a critical priority of the Illinois Corn Growers Association because the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers provide a significant advantage for Illinois corn farmers that sell their corn out of our state. Approximately 40 percent of Illinois corn leaves the state for export.

Members of the Illinois delegation that have agreed to support a new lock and dam construction in the Upper Mississippi or Illinois River are:

Senator Tammy DuckworthRepresentative Mike Bost

Representative Cheri BustosSenator Richard DurbinRepresentative Sean Casten Representative Danny Davis Representative Rodney Davis Representative Bill Foster Representative Robin Kelly Representative Adam Kinzinger Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi Representative Darin LaHood Representative Daniel Lipinski Representative Mike Quigley Representative Bobby Rush Representative Jan Schakowsky Representative Bradley Schneider Representative John Shimkus Representative Lauren Underwood

Watch for future updates to this story which will include members of the Illinois delegation that lend their support to this encouragement for a new lock and dam construction project in FY21.

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