A Message from our Chairman
Partly through the fortune of geography and partly through the wise investments of our forefathers, our nation enjoys a vast national inland waterways system, a combination of rivers and canals, locks and dams that provide America with, safe, efficient and environmentally friendly transportation for the building blocks of our economy. Additionally, the system provides a host of non-transportation benefits, including hydro-power, water supply, ecosystem maintenance, recreation and more. The Waterways Council, Inc., (WCI), exists to ensure we keep this system efficient and reliable for its users today and future generations.
Today, many of us are focused on the economy and jobs. Our waterways are a jobs engine. They provide and sustain family wage jobs across many sectors. They keep our farmers and manufacturers competitive in tough global markets by allowing them to get their products to their ultimate consumers for less than our competitors abroad. Maintaining and recapitalizing waterways infrastructure provides much needed jobs in the construction sector.
Prior generations provided us with a tough and resilient system that has served us in many cases far longer than its builders dreamed. Today, in many places across the country, it is time to reinvest in our infrastructure, by repairing, upgrading or replacing locks and dams and other infrastructure so that we continue to confidently serve our nation’s current and future transportation needs. The system we have today for maintaining and recapitalizing our waterways is broken, but WCI has a plan to fix it.
As the national public policy organization that advocates for a properly funded and well-maintained system of inland waterways and ports, we are pleased you have taken the time to visit our web site. Please take a moment to peruse the site and learn more about our waterways, the role they play in the economy and what WCI is doing to help.
I urge you to inform yourself with the facts about our waterways, confident that when you do, you will add your voice to the chorus of those calling for our nation to do a better job of maintaining the vitality of this national system. Let us hear from you, and let your elected officials hear from you too! Together we can keep America – and her critical commodities – moving and Americans working!
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Matt Woodruff
Director Government Affairs
Kirby Corporation
Houston, Texas
