The U.S. House of Representatives on June 7 voted overwhelmingly in favor of the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 (H.R. 8), which authorizes improvements to the nation’s ports, inland waterways, locks, dams, flood protection, ecosystem restoration, and other water resources infrastructure.
The bill, which passed the House on a 408-2 vote, authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to sustain the nation’s water infrastructure, and to offset the cost of newly authorized projects by deauthorizing idle projects. The bill also calls for an analysis of the effects of moving the Corps’ civil work out of the Pentagon and into another agency or to a completely new entity.
“Our nation’s transportation infrastructure is critical to agriculture and rural America’s comparative advantage in world markets, and the Water Resources Development Act, or WRDA, is a vital support for that network that must be reauthorized by Congress in 2018,” said Chris Jahn, president of The Fertilizer Institute (TFI). “WRDA is the foundation for the modernization of our nation’s inland waterways and ports, which are an integral component of the fertilizer distribution system. TFI and our members are pleased to see it pass with such tremendous and bipartisan support.”
Jahn highlighted the need for modernizing the country’s water infrastructure by noting a 700 percent increase in unscheduled work stoppages for repairs to aging locks and dams. “These delays are not only disastrous for the farmers who receive much of the almost 70 million tons of fertilizer each year via our nation’s waterways, they can also raise the prices of everyday goods and food for consumers,” he said.
The bill now moves to the Senate, which is expected to take up its version of the legislation this summer. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously approved the bill in May.
“The Senate must act to give agricultural customers the modern and efficient waterway system they need,” Jahn said. “Half of all food grown around the world today is made possible through the use of fertilizer. But if that fertilizer can’t be efficiently transported throughout the supply chain, or is unnecessarily delayed, we could have a serious food and economic crisis on our hands. Our nation’s farmers, fertilizer producers, retailers, and shippers are counting on the Senate to act quickly.”