In newly released testimony, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Bob Dickey called on Congress to act quickly to fund important waterway projects as a means for creating jobs and providing economic stimulus for the Midwest. The testimony was offered as part of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Oct. 28 hearing “Investing in Infrastructure: The Road to Recovery.”

“Each year, more than one billion bushels of grain (about 60 percent of all grain exports) are shipped for export via the Mississippi River,” Dickey said. “However, the waterways infrastructure on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers was built in the 1930s with a life expectancy of 50 years; frequent delays caused by these antiquated locks are hurting our family farmers and our ability to compete in a global marketplace.”

Specifically, NCGA is interested in seeing new construction move forward on the seven projects in the Upper Mississippi lock system that were authorized in the 2007 Water Resources Development Act: Mississippi L&D 25, 24, 22, 21, 20 and LaGrange and Peoria on the Illinois River, some of which are design-build ready.

“These lock upgrades would require a total of 48 million person hours from skilled trades throughout the Midwest,” Dickey said. “The reinvestment potential for our communities from this opportunity is enormous. It would provide for jobs and create immediate economic benefits.”

In addition to the economic benefits, positive environmental factors were also cited. For example, barges operate at 10 percent of the cost of trucks and 40 percent of the cost of trains, while releasing twenty times less nitrous oxide, nine times less carbon monoxide, seven times less hydrocarbons. Also, barges burn one-tenth the fuel of the other modes.

“At a time when the American public expects energy efficiency and reduced air emissions for public works projects, waterways navigation offers transportation with unparalleled environmental benefits,” Dickey said. “The carrying capacity of one 15-barge tow eliminates the need for 870 semi-trailer trucks to travel our nation’s highways, reducing traffic congestion.”

Click here for the complete testimony