On August 4, Representative McCombie took part in the Illinois and Iowa corn growers barge tour along the Mississippi of Lock and Dam 15. During the tour elected official, agency heads, and their staffs from both Illinois and Iowa saw first hand the wear-and-tear on the US waterway system.
The current federal budget doesn’t provide enough funding for waterways, to keep up with the maintenance. Maintaining the system will provide economic benefits both locally and nationally. Moving grain by barge is cheaper, more efficient, and keeps tens of thousands of 18 wheelers off the road.
The lock and dam system is over half a century old and is ready to be upgraded to accommodate modern day barge traffic. fix Fixing the system and upgrading it, presenters from the industry argue, will allow local farmers to stay ahead of international competition and grow our economy.
