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Missouri Soybean Association Applauds
WRDA Passage FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 8, 2007 “We are truly pleased to see such overwhelming support from Congress on this critical piece of legislation,” says MSA President Greg Sharpe, a soybean farmer from Ewing, Mo. “The WRDA provides much needed relief to the river transportation infrastructure that soybean farmers depend upon to transport grains. We’d like to specially thank Senator Kit Bond who has provided relentless support and leadership to modernize our river systems’ locks and dams.” The House of Representatives voted 361-54 and the Senate voted 79-14 to override the veto. Both votes easily exceeded the two-thirds majority needed in each chamber to negate a presidential veto. “This long overdue bill will do wonders to revitalize river transportation,” says Dale R. Ludwig, executive director/CEO of the MSA. “More than 50 percent of U.S. locks and dams have aged beyond their life cycle and many are crumbling. In addition, many are unable to handle today’s barges because they are twice as long as when the system was built in the 1930s. When barges must be split, costly delays occur.” More than 75 percent of U.S. soybean exports move to world ports through the Upper Mississippi and Illinois river systems. WRDA legislation will authorize funding for construction of seven new locks and other critical improvements on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers. The MSA is a statewide membership organization providing a collective voice in representing interests specific to the Missouri soybean producer through legislative advocacy, influencing public policy and communication/education to and for its members in order to increase profitability for Missouri soybean farmers. ###
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© Missouri Soybean Programs |