As part of H.R. 647, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, the House of Representatives on Wednesday passed, by a vote of 404-17, a provision to increase the barge fuel fee to fund needed waterways infrastructure projects. American Soybean Association (ASA) President and Iowa farmer Ray Gaesser expressed ASA’s appreciation for the fee, which is supported by those in the waterways industry.

“The nine-cent increase in the per-gallon barge fuel fee is something that is supported not only by the nation’s soybean farmers, but also by the commercial barge and towing operators who pay it. We all support this as a way to dedicate funds to new waterways infrastructure construction and major rehabilitation of the inland waterways system through the Inland Waterways Trust Fund. We are pleased that the House passed this provision, and we call on the Senate to quickly do the same.”

In response to the House passage of a short-term extension of several key tax credits, the ASA expressed both its appreciation for a fix in the near term, and disappointment in the absence of a longer-term solution. Gaesser used the opportunity to call on Congress to redouble its efforts to pass a longer-term tax extenders package.

“ASA first and foremost supports a long-term extension of several of the items included in today’s short-term fix. These initiatives include the dollar-per-gallon biodiesel tax credit, expensing for farm equipment and infrastructure under the Section 179 expensing provision, and bonus depreciation on farm assets. Such an approach provides greater certainty and a more stable climate for the farmers and producers who make use of these programs, and we were very disappointed that agreement was not reached on a broader measure. That said, we support the House’s passage of their short-term extension in the absence of a more permanent solution. While it remains only a stopgap measure, we hope that the Senate will take up and pass it quickly. At that point, we urge both chambers to join together and tackle the work of extending these critical tax incentives for the long term.”