Take action – voice your support for inland waterway improvements
America’s inland waterways are critical to corn farmers in Minnesota and across the country, transporting hundreds of millions of tons of bulk commodities and farm inputs each year. But that system needs significant improvements, given that 80% of U.S. locks and dams have exceeded their intended design life, according to Waterways Council, Inc.
That’s why the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) is supporting bipartisan legislation that would effectively allow the federal government to increase spending on inland waterway capital improvement projects. Sponsored by U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), S.4367 would allow the federal government to cover a higher percentage of inland waterway capital improvement project costs as outlined in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024.
Currently, the federal government covers 65% of inland waterway capital improvement project costs, and the remaining 35% comes from a tax on commercial barge fuel. Given that the commercial barge fuel tax collects approximately $125 million each year, federal spending on inland waterway capital improvement is effectively limited to $357 million annually.
S. 4367 would allow the federal government to cover 75% of inland waterway capital improvement project costs and only require 25% to come from the commercial barge fuel tax. That would raise the effective federal spending limit on inland waterway capital improvement projects to $500 million annually—a $143 million increase.
S. 4367 passed the U.S. Senate unanimously in July and awaits action by a congressional conference committee. Its companion bill, H.R.8812, is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.). It passed the U.S. House with overwhelming bipartisan support but does not include the provision that would allow the federal government to cover a higher percentage of inland waterway capital improvement costs.
Fortunately, encouraging your members of Congress to support the Senate version of the bill is easy. Waterways Council, Inc. has a readymade letter available on its website allowing farmers to voice their support for the Senate bill. All you need to do to send a letter is fill in your name and address on the form. You can also record a video voicing your support for the Senate version of the legislation. You can find the Waterways Council’s letter here.
