Shipping industry praises U.S. House passage of water resources bill

Shipping industry praises U.S. House passage of water resources bill Shippers and transportation providers who rely on the U.S. inland waterway system praised the House for its passage of a bill that promises to focus attention on the replacement of aging locks and dams.
   Many (locks and dams) are unable to handle today’s barges that are twice as long as when the system was built in the 1930s,” said Rick Ostlie, president of the American Soybean Association, in a statement. “Many barges must be split and sent through in two separate sections causing delays which result in higher transportation costs, lower commodity prices and fewer international sales for U.S. farmers.”
   The House passed the 2007 Water Resources Development Act (H.R. 1495) on Thursday night by a 394-25 vote. The legislation will provide funding for construction of seven new locks and other critical improvements on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers.
   “A modern and efficient lock and dam system on our nation’s inland waterways supports the transport of critical commodities such as grain for export, coal for electric power generation and chemicals for the pharmaceutical industry and aggregate uses,” said Barry Palmer, president of the Waterways Council. “Our country cannot compete without a modern navigation system.”
   The House and Senate passed a similar bill last year, but were not given final approval before the end of the congressional session. The Senate is expected to consider a similar version of the bill in the next few months.