Sometime late next week, we expect that the Water Resources Development Act Conference Committee Report will be voted on in the House and the Senate. This bill includes language that shifts the payment formula on the significantly over budget Olmsted Lock and Dam construction to 85 percent federal and 15 percent Inland Waterways Trust Fund.  The shift frees up IWTF monies for new construction!

This is a win for locks and dams, but a small one.  Serious construction monies aren’t available until we pass an increase in the barge user fee and allocate money for the increased federal portion of Olmsted construction.

As a member, you can sign up to receive text messages from us when important policy actions, such as this WRDA bill, are taking place. This allows us to get a “call to action” message out to you as quickly as possible to help this bill get passed through the House and Senate.

Go to this site to sign up to receive these important text messages next week! http://sms.ilcorn.org/

You can rest assured that we will treat your personal information with consideration and confidentiality.  We will not share your cell phone number with other companies or associations and we will only send text alerts when your action is vital to the future of the ag industry.