While floor consideration of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) in the Senate has been put off in favor of gun control and immigration, there continues to be significant activity on the waterways infrastructure and policy issues.

The delay in Senate floor consideration provides an opportunity to educate members on the importance of addressing the funding issues related to inland waterways infrastructure. The WRDA that was passed by the Senate Environment & Public Works (EPW) Committee has many positive aspects, but does not yet address the key revenue and financing issues that would enable progress on the ageing locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi River.

EPW Committee leaders have indicated that there will be a manager’s amendment that will include federalization of Olmsted Lock & Dam, raising the federal general treasury contributions to major rehabilitation projects and inclusion of a user fee increase. However, it is not yet clear if there is sufficient support in the Senate to pass those provisions.

ASA Washington staff joined with representatives of the National Grain & Feed Association, National Oilseed Processors Association, and other agriculture industry partners in a series of meetings with Senate offices to reiterate the needs and priorities for U.S. agricultural commodities. ASA Washington staff will also meet with staff for Members of the House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee offices in the coming week.

The House T&I Committee held a hearing on WRDA this week with representatives from the waterways industry serving on the panel of witnesses. In addition, the committee has held a "roundtable" discussion for Members and WRDA 101 briefings have been conducted for staff.

In his opening statement and the T&I Committee hearing, Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) relayed the importance of inland waterways to the soybean industry saying, "I was visiting with the soybean folks and they explained to me how it costs $85.19 to ship a metric ton of soybeans down the Mississippi from Davenport, Iowa, through Louisiana's ports, and on to Shanghai, China. It costs Brazil $141.73 to ship the same amount of soybeans approximately the same distance. However, Brazil is planning to invest $26 billion to modernize its ports and has begun major investments in its waterways so that it can better compete with the United States."

ASA Washington staff along with the Soy Transportation Coalition met with Chairman Shuster in March and provided the information that the Chairman has utilized frequently when talking about the importance of enacting a WRDA.