Fourth “R”: Support Higher Funding Levels for River Infrastructure
The fourth “R” for Rivers, and its aging infrastructure, have to be a priority, as much as roads, railways and runways.
Our rivers and waterways allow the Nation’s critical commodities – grain, coal, agricultural inputs, steel, minerals, 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 to increase themovement of exports, 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
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; Congress Urges FY20 NESP funding; 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. The study update, “A Modal Comparison of Domestic Freight Transportation Effects on the General Public: 2001–2014 (January 2017).” is here
- Joint Letter from Congress Urging NESP Funding in FY ’20, April 4, 2019
- 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 2009-2018
- IWUB Advice and Recommendations to Congress on FY19 President’s Budget, April 13, 2018
- Inland Waterways Users Board 31st Annual Report 2018
Where We Stand
"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." - George Washington, returning in the fall of 1783 from a tour of the Mohawk Valley, writing to a friend concerning the Nation's natural waterways
Our Nation enjoys a vast inland waterways system, a combination of rivers and canals, locks and dams, that provide America with safe, efficient and environmentally-friendly transportation of commodities that are the underpinnings 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, translating to farmer, shipper, and consumer cost savings.
