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Nov 14, 2014
Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) are circulating a Dear Colleague letter in support of a letter to be sent to President Obama, urging inclusion of funding for the Navigation Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) in the President’s FY2016 budget. Currently 17 bi-partisan Members of Congress have signed the letter. The deadline is Friday, Nov. 14 for additional signatures.
The NESP funding would support lock modernization, navigation efficiency measures, and ecosystem on the Mississippi and Illinois River systems and the letter urges funding to allow for an immediate construction start in FY16. The congressional letter references the importance of the inland waterways infrastructure to soybean exports. ASA also led an agricultural industry letter to the President in support of funding for NESP, which is also attached.
ASA is asking all members to contact their Representatives and urge them to sign onto the attached letter to President Obama in support of funding in the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Request for the Navigation Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) for the Upper Mississippi River System. The deadline is today, so please contact your House offices as soon as possible.
You can either contact your members of Congress directly, or you can utilize the pre-made template and talking points at the Soy Action Center at SoyGrowers.com/learn/soy-action-center.
If a House member would like to sign the letter, their staff should contact JT Mackey in Rep. Adam Kinzinger’s office at JT.Mackey@mail.house.gov, or Natalie Mamerow in Rep. Ron Kind’s office at Natalie.Mamerow@mail.house.gov
House members that have signed on already include:
Democrats
Republicans
Groups Endorsing NESP include:
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental & Reinforcing Iron Workers International Union of Operating Engineers Marquette Transportation Company, LLC National Association of Wheat Growers National Barley Growers Association National Corn Growers Association National Council of Farmers Cooperatives National Grain & Feed Association National Farmers Union National Sunflower Association North America’s Building Trades Unions (AFL-CIO) Origination, Inc.
The Associated General Contractors of America The Fertilizer Institute The Nature Conservancy United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council U.S. Canola Association U.S. Dry Bean Council Upper River Services, LLC Waterways Council, Inc.
If you have additional questions, please contact Tom Hance in ASA's Washington office at thance@gordley.com, and we will keep you updated as this issue moves forward.
