ICGA STATEMENT REGARDING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE NOW PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP ACT

Tricia Braid

Mar 18, 2013  |  ICGA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Tricia Braid
                  (309) 557-3257

WASHINGTON, DC—Illinois Corn Growers Association President Paul Taylor, a family farmer from Esmond, IL, issued the following statement today regarding the Water Infrastructure Now Public-Private Partnership Act introduced last week by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL).

“The Illinois Corn Growers Association will support the bipartisan, bicameral Water Infrastructure Now Public-Private Partnership Act. We thank Senator Dick Durbin and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, and also Congresswoman Cheri Bustos and Congressman Rodney Davis for putting together this bill to address a longstanding backlog of work to upgrade and modernize the transportation infrastructure on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.

Improving the waterways infrastructure has been a goal of Illinois Corn for some time. We’re certainly optimistic that this Congress will understand how important our nation’s waterways are to our overall economy. This bill would provide for an innovative partnership between public and private stakeholders to get the work on the rivers accomplished.

The time has long passed to think about making these upgrades. It’s now time to get the work done. The 2012 drought and the subsequent low-water levels on the Mid-Mississippi gave us a glimpse at what could happen if there was a river shutdown. We’re glad that this group of Senators and members of Congress are leading the charge to improve our waterways and keep America moving.”