TFI: WRDA Marks Major Step Toward Modernizing Inland Waterway Infrastructure
The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) today applauded Congress for advancing the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), a key piece of legislation supporting our nation’s water infrastructure. The legislation also includes the proposed creation of the Inland Navigation Construction Organization (INCO), an important step toward improving the maintenance, modernization, and long-term reliability of our nation’s inland waterway system.
“Our nation’s transportation infrastructure is critical to agriculture and rural America’s competitive advantage in world markets, and WRDA provides vital support for that network,” said TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch. “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.”
Of particular importance, this year’s legislation proposes establishing the Inland Navigation Construction Organization (INCO) aimed at better managing the construction, rehabilitation, and modernization of inland navigation infrastructure. America’s locks and dams serve as the backbone of the inland waterway system, yet many are operating well beyond their designed lifespan. Strengthening the management and delivery of these critical projects will help reduce delays, improve system reliability, and ensure long-term investment in the infrastructure that keeps agricultural products and crop nutrients moving efficiently.
“For decades, aging locks and dams have created costly delays and uncertainty throughout the inland navigation system. Establishing the Inland Navigation Construction Organization is an important step toward addressing the longstanding challenges facing our inland waterway system,” Rosenbusch said. “A more coordinated and efficient approach to maintaining and modernizing locks and dams will help ensure these critical assets remain reliable for the industries and communities that depend on them.”
Rosenbusch noted that addressing the maintenance backlog, estimated at billions of dollars, is an investment in our nation’s future, saying that well-maintained waterways enable the fertilizer industry to transport goods quickly and reliably, ensuring farmers receive supplies on time.
“Delays caused by outdated components of the system are not only disastrous for the farmers who receive much of the almost 70 million tons of fertilizer each year via our nation’s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,” Rosenbusch concluded. “The fertilizer industry appreciates the bipartisan work of Congressional leaders that continue to make modernization of our inland waterways a priority.”
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