Fourth “R”: Support Higher Funding Levels for River Infrastructure

Where We Stand

George Washington, returning in the fall of 1783 from a tour of the Mohawk Valley, wrote to a friend concerning the Nation's natural waterways: "Prompted by these actual observations, I could not help taking a more extensive view of the vast inland navigation of these United States and importance of it, and with the goodness of that Providence, which has dealt is favors to us with so profuse a hand. Would to God we had the wisdom enough to improve them."
Our nation enjoys a vast inland waterways system, a combination of rivers and canals, locks and dams, that provides America with safe, efficient and environmentally friendly transportation for the building blocks of our economy.
While they are often out of sight,out of mind, waterways are critical to keeping our domestic supply chain competitive. There is a $20.37-per-ton cost savings for shipping on the inland waterways; this translates to farmer, shipper, and consumer cost savings.
Without waterborne cargo, our domestic products would congest the Nation's truck and rail lines, dramatically increasing costs for those within our borders.

The fourth “R” for rivers and its aging infrastructure – can’t be forgotten among Roads, Railways and Runways. Our waterways allow the nation’s critical commodities – grain, coal, agricultural inputs, steel, petroleum products, chemicals, and aggregate materials – to be used domestically and to reach export markets in the most cost-competitive way.

Annual appropriations for waterways infrastructure must remain strong and efficient for the exports that are expected to increase, and to alleviate congestion on roads and rail that are at capacity. Support the highest funding levels for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works mission to modernize our waterways system that benefits the nation.

Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Lock Report/Draft SEIS

“Mississippi River, Baton Rouge to the Gulf of Mexico Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet, Louisiana, New Industrial Canal Lock and Connecting Channels Project (Draft General Reevaluation Report and Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement)”, January 2017

Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Lock Report/Draft SEIS Comment Letters (WCI/GICA)

WCI Comment Letter, February 9, 2017

Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association Comment Letter, February 8, 2017

Other Background Materials: TTI Transportation Modal Comparison Study; Navigation Coalition Letter; Senators Urge NESP letter; NGFA FY 2017 funding letter and more…

National Waterways Foundation (NWF)-commissioned update of a national study comparing selected societal, environmental, and safety impacts of utilizing inland river barge transportation to highway and rail transportation has been released. Te study update, “A Modal Comparison of Domestic Freight Transportation Effects on the General Public: 2001–2014 (January 2017).” is here

Navigation Coalition Letter to House Appropriators urging efficient FY ’17 funding, February 7, 2017

Navigation Coalition Letter to Senate Appropriators urging efficient FY ’17 funding, February 8, 2017

Letter from key Senators urging funding for NESP in FY ’17, March 11, 2016

Letter to Senate appropriators from National Grain and Feed Association members supporting efficient funding levels for waterways in FY ’17, March 11, 2016

Letter to House appropriators from National Grain and Feed Association members supporting efficient funding levels for waterways in FY ’17, March 11, 2016

Letter to Senate appropriators signed by 56 stakeholder organizations urging PED funding for NESP in FY ’17, March 2, 2016

Letter to House appropriators signed by 56 stakeholder organizations urging PED funding for NESP in FY ’17, March 2, 2016

National Corn Growers Association letter supporting FY ’16 House E&WD appropriations levels, April 27, 2015

Priority Projects and Current Completion Dates

Inland Waterways Trust Fund Year-End Balances 1992-2015

Inland Waterways Users Board 28th Annual Report 2015

Waterways: Working for America (Highlights of “A Modal Comparison of Domestic Freight Transportation Effects on the General Public: 2001-2009″ (February 2012)

Waterways: Vital to the Nation (Highlights of “Toward a Full Accounting of the Beneficiaries of Navigable Waterways” (January 2011)

Issue News

EDITORIAL: Build infrastructure Jun 14, 2017 - News and Record (Greensboro, N.C.) The White House says that money was to be spent on wasteful projects. Private companies invest in public infrastructure to make a profit. His tax-reform proposal was contained on a single sheet of paper, again leaving the nitty-gritty to Congress -- an invitation to inaction.