The American Soybean Association (ASA) is urging Congress to override the veto of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) made today by President George W. Bush. ASA has worked for years to secure passage of WRDA legislation because it provides much-needed improvements to waterways that are vital to the transport of U.S. soybeans.

In September, the Senate overwhelmingly approved the WRDA conference report in an 81-12 vote. Likewise, the House of Representatives approved the WRDA legislation in August in a vote of 281-40.

"Soybean growers appreciate the bipartisan efforts of Congress to pass this legislation and urge Members to take the final step needed so America’s waterways will receive long-overdue improvements," said ASA President John Hoffman, a soybean grower from Waterloo, Iowa. "More than 75 percent of U.S. soybean exports move to world ports through the Upper Mississippi and Illinois river systems so WRDA is key to soybean growers."

ASA is inviting all U.S. farmers to utilize its online Legislative Action Center, available at www.SoyGrowers.com, to immediately send email messages to Congress urging an override of the President’s veto.

U.S. waterways are the most economical and environmentally friendly way to move U.S. soybeans to domestic and foreign markets. WRDA legislation will authorize for funding for construction of seven new locks and other critical improvements on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers. More than 50 percent of U.S. locks and dams have aged beyond their life cycle and many are crumbling. In addition, many are unable to handle today’s barges that are twice as long as when the system was built in the 1930s. Because many barges must be split, higher transportation costs, lower commodity prices and fewer international sales for U.S. farmers occur.