Letter Supporting Vote on Water Resources Development Act

NATIONAL WATERWAYS ALLIANCE
Suite 608 | 4650 Washington Blvd. | Arlington, VA 22201 | (703) 243-4090 | Fax (703) 243-4155

September 21, 2005

The Honorable Bill Frist and Harry Reid
Senate Majority Leader and Senate Minority Leader
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Sen. Frist and Sen. Reid:

Because of the critical importance of water resources to this Nation, the undersigned strongly urge you to bring S. 728, the Water Resources Development Act of 2005, to the Senate floor for a vote as soon as possible. It has been five long years since a WRDA was passed, leaving a number of projects, vital to the well-being of the nation, languishing in limbo. Not only does WRDA contain authorizations for greatly needed ports, locks and dams, flood control projects, including beach renourishment, and environmental restoration projects, it contains a number of crucial project modifications. In addition, S. 728:

• Is founded on the principle that water resources projects provide quality of life benefits through economic growth and the health of our environment,
• Keeps our Nation's commitment to non-Federal sponsors for timely authorizations that solve critical problems,
• Authorizes not only projects critical to our economy but also authorizes some of the largest and unprecedented ecosystem restoration efforts in the world, such as Louisiana Coastal Restoration and the Everglades.
• Positions the Corps of Engineers to meet contemporary water resources needs with fully modern tools including streamlined studies, peer review that adds value to planning and science-based mitigation,
• Codifies improvements the Corps has and is making to ensure confidence in its studies and recommendations,
• Represents a bi-partisan compromise that is the best hope to ending the recent WRDA stalemate and restoring a predictable biennial WRDA cycle,
• And, in light of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, this WRDA would ensure that the Corps undertakes a riskanalysis approach to water resources planning, including considering the potential for loss of life in flood areas all over the country. It also allows for the multi-benefits of projects to be identified, thereby allowing Congressional leaders to make more informed judgments.

Our water resources contribute mightily to our Nation's economic and environmental well-being. Ports and waterways are integral to our national transportation system and contribute $718 billion to the Nation's GDP while ensuring domestic and international trade opportunities and safe, low-cost and eco-friendly transportation of important products such as consumer goods, steel, coal, fertilizer, salt, sand and gravel, cement, petroleum and chemicals. Ports are our gateways, allowing us to be competitive, and their channels must be enhanced and maintained to accommodate the new generations of ships sailing to our shores. The U.S. maritime transportation system moves more than 60 percent of the Nation's grain exports and 95 percent of the Nation's imports. Over 50 percent of our locks and dams have aged beyond their life cycle and many are crumbling. We must continue to modernize these facilities while sustaining the aquatic environment. Our flood damage reduction program saves lives and prevents almost $8 in damages for each dollar spent. In the lower Mississippi Valley, flood control projects return over $24 per dollar spent in property damages saved. Corps hydropower facilities supply 24% of the hydropower generated in the United States. Shore protection projects provide safety from hurricanes and other storm events for transportation, petroleum and agriculture infrastructure around our coastal waterways and deltas as well as recreational benefits, returning $4 in benefits for each dollar invested. Projects for water supply, irrigation, recreation and wildlife habitat provide innumerable benefits. Investing in water resources sustains economic growth and the American worker, directly eases growing congestion on our Nation's roads and railroads and provides a finer quality of life.

Recently, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the nation's waterways a "D-minus" (their lowest grade) because of their steadily deteriorating condition and reliability. As Katrina so brutally demonstrated, our nation simply cannot afford for this trend to continue. The Water Resources Development Act of 2005, as reported, will finally set the Nation back on the track of reversing the trend so as to realize substantial returns on investment in water resources. By bringing the Water Resources Development Act to the floor, you can assure common sense policies to meet contemporary water resources needs as well as reliable and efficient water resources infrastructure from our coastlines to our ports and inland rivers and Great Lakes. It will help provide our children with the infrastructure necessary for an economically and environmentally sustainable future.

Sincerely,

NWA: An alliance of water-related businesses in aluminum, building materials, cement, chemical, coal, grain and feed, fertilizer, iron and steel, salt, paper and wood products, petroleum, and other industries; port authorities; labor unions; water carriers; river valley and industry associations; banks; utilities; agricultural and electric power cooperatives; flood control and coastal protection proponents; dredging and waterway service firms; boating recreation and water supply advocates, shipyards and repair facilities, and terminals, serving millions of customers, clients and consumers. Visit our website: www.waterways.org.

ADM/American River Transportation Co.
AG Processing Inc.
AGC of St. Louis
Agribusiness Association of Iowa
Agriculture Ocean Transportation Coalition
Agricultural Retailers Association
AGRIServices of Brunswick, LLC
Agrium
Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators
All American Co-op
Port of Alsea (OR)
Alter Barge Line
Ameren
American Association of Port Authorities
American Council of Engineering Companies
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Feed Industry Association
American Pilots' Association
American Shore and Beach Preservation Association
American Society of Civil Engineers
American Soybean Association
Aon Risk Services of Missouri
Arch Coal Inc.
Arkansas Basin Development Association
Arkansas Red River Commission
Arkansas Waterways Association
Arkansas Waterways Commission
The Associated General Contractors of America
Port of Astoria (OR)
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association
Port of Bandon (OR)
Bay Planning Coalition (CA)
Bean Stuyvesant LLC
Port of Benton (WA)
Bergmann Associates
Big Soo Terminal
Boat Owners Association of the United States (BoatUS)
Boaters are Voters
Bollinger Shipyards, Inc.
Brennan Marine, Inc.
Port of Brookings Harbor (OR)
Port of Brownsville (TX)
Buffalo-Putnam Port District (WV)
Bunge North America, Inc.
Bussen Terminal
Cahokia Marine Service
California Marine Affairs and Navigation Conference
Borough of Cape May Point, NJ
Cargo Carriers/Cargill
Carpenters' District Council of Greater St. Louis and Vicinity
CEMEX USA
Ceres Consulting, L.L.C.
CF Industries, Inc.
CGB Enterprises, Inc.
CH2M HILL
Cherokee Barge & Boat, LLC
CHS, Inc.
CITGO Petroleum Corp.
Port of Columbia (WA)
Columbiana County Port Authority (OH)
Columbia River Customs Brokers &
Forwarders Association
Columbia River Shippers Association
Colusa Elevator Co.
Consolidated Blenders, Inc.
Construction Management Association of America
Continental Cement Company, Inc.
Port of Coos Bay (OR)
Coosa-Alabama River Improvement Association, Inc.
Cora Terminal, L.P.
Port of Corpus Christi (TX)
Creedmoor, NC
Dairyland Power Cooperative
Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corp.
Port of The Dalles (OR)
Davison Petroleum Products, LLC
DeBruce Grain, Inc.
Port of Depoe Bay (OR)
Des Arc Industrial Development Corporation (AR)
Determann Industries, Inc.
Dredging Contractors of America
The Dutra Group
Dyno Nobel Inc.
Eagle Marine Industries, Inc.
Economy Boat Store
Port of Everett (WA)
Fabick Power Systems
Farmers Coop Association
Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company
Farmers Elevator Company of Traverse
The Fertilizer Institute
The Fire Island Association (NY)
Florida Inland Navigation District
J. Russell Flowers, Inc.
Gahagan and Bryant Associates
City of Galveston, TX
Port of Garibaldi (OR)
Garick Corp.
Garvey Marine, Inc.
Gateway Arch Riverboats
Gateway FS, Inc.
Georgia Ports Authority
Ben C. Gerwick, Inc.
Port of Gold Beach (OR)
Grain and Feed Association of Illinois
Grain Processing Corporation
Grampa Woo Excursions
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock
Great River Economic Development Foundation
Green Bay Farms L.P.
Grundy County Farm Bureau
Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association
Hampton Roads Maritime Association
Harber, Inc.
Harmony/Preston Agri Services, Inc.
Harris County Flood Control District (TX)
Hatch Mott MacDonald (NJ)
Hawkins Chemical Company, Inc.
HDR
Heart of Illinois Regional Port District
HNTB Corporation
Hofmeister Bros.
Holcim (U.S.) Inc.
Port of Humboldt Bay (CA)
Humco Marine Products, Inc.
Hunter Marine Transport, Inc.
IEI Barge Services, Inc.
Illinois Corn Growers Association
Illinois Farm Bureau Federation
Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association
Illinois Grain and Feed Association
Illinois River Carriers Association
Illinois Soybean Association
Illinois State Chamber of Commerce
Illinois State Council of Carpenters
Port of Ilwaco (WA)
Imperial Beach (CA)
INCA Engineering, Inc.
Independent Liquid Terminals Association
Industrial Association of Quincy (IL)
Industrial Development Authority of New Madrid County
Ingram Barge Lines, Inc.
Inland Rivers, Ports & Terminals, Inc.
Iowa Corn Growers Association
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
Iowa Renewable Fuels
Islandia II Condominium Association (FL)
James Marine Inc.
Jebro Incorporated
Jersey County Grain Company
Johnson Machine Works
Johnston Port 33
Kansas City Power & Light
Kansas Corn Growers Association
Kaskaskia Regional Port District
City of Keokuk, IA
Kinder Morgan Bulk Terminals, Inc.
Kindra Lake Towing, L.P.
Kirby Corporation
Laborers' International Union of North America, Midwest Region
Laborers' International Union of North America Great Plains Laborers' District Council
Laborers' International Union of North America Southwestern Illinois Laborers' District Council
Laborers' International Union of North America Eastern Missouri
Laborers' District Council
Lake Carriers' Association
Lake Providence Port Commission (LA)
Port of Lewiston (ID)
Limited Leasing Company
The Little River Drainage District (MO)
Linwood Mining & Minerals Corp.
Little Rock Port Authority
Lone Star Industries, Inc.
Long Island Coastal Alliance
Port of Longview (WA)
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Office of Public Works and Intermodal Transportation
Luhr Bros. Inc.
Magnolia Marine Transport Co.
Borough of Mantoloking, NJ
MARC 2000
Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey
Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay
Marquette Transportation Co., Inc.
Martin County (FL) Board of County
Commissioners
Maryland Grain Producers Association
Massman Construction Co.
McCallie Marine Service, LLC
MEMCO Barge Line
Port of Memphis (TN)
Merichem
Merrill Marine Services
MFA, Inc.
Mid-America Intermodal Authority Port District
Mid-America Port Commission
Mid-Central Illinois Regional Council of Carpenters
Midwest Industrial Fuels, Inc.
Midwest Region Laborers'-Employers Coop & Education Trust
Robert B. Miller & Associates, Inc.
Minneapolis Grain Exchange
Minnesota Agri-Growth Council, Inc.
Minnesota Grain and Feed Association
Minnesota Ports Associaiton
Minnesota Production Retailers Association
Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association
Mississippi Welders Supply Co Inc.
Missouri Ag Industry Council (MO-AG)
Missouri Barge Line Company, Inc.
Missouri Corn Growers Association
Missouri Farm Bureau Federation
Missouri Levee and Drainage District Association
Missouri Oil Council
Missouri Port Authority Association
Missouri Soybean Association
MO-ARK Association
Monsanto
Port of Morrow (OR)
Morrow Group USA
Port of Muskogee (OK)
National Association of Maritime Organizations
National Association of Wheat Growers
National Corn Growers Association
National Grain Trade Council
National Grange
National Heavy & Highway Alliance
Laborers' International Union of North America
International Union of Operating Engineers
United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America
International Association of Bridge,Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron
Workers
Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
National Industrial Transportation League
National Oilseed Processors Association
National Marine Manufacturers Association
National Mining Association
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association
National Waterways Conference, Inc.
New Madrid County Port Authority (MO)
Port of Newport (OR)
Port of New Orleans
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Norman Bros., Inc.
North America Grain Export Association
North Carolina State Port Authority
North Topsail Beach, NC
NSA Agencies, Inc.
City of Oceanside (CA)
Oceanside Small Craft Harbor District (CA)
Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Waterways Advisory Board
Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Waterways Branch
Olympic Marine Company
Ouachita River Valley Association
Pacific Northwest Grain and Feed Association
Pacific Northwest Waterways Association
Pattison Bros. Mississippi River Terminal, Inc.
Port of Palm Beach (FL)
Port of Pasco (WA)
Town of Pawleys Island, SC
Pemiscot County Port Authority (MO)
Pere Marquette Shipping (MI)
Port of Pittsburgh Commission
Port of Portland (OR)
Portland Cement Association
Portland Shipping Club
Port of Port Orford (OR)
Ports Association of Louisiana
Quad City Development Group
Red River Terminals LLC
Red River Valley Association
Port of Redwood City (CA)
RiverBarge Excursion Lines, Inc.
River Cement Company
River Navigation Coalition
River Resource Alliance
River Stone Group, Inc.
Riverway Company
Rosedale-Bolivar County Port Commission (MS)
St. Louis Basic Building and Construction Trades Council
St. Louis City Port Authority/Economic Council
St. Louis Regional Council for Growth Association
Salt Institute
San Clemente, CA
City of Sarasota, FL
Sargeant Grain Company
Scott County Farm Bureau
The Scoular Company
Seneca Transportation
Shaver Transportation Company
Port of Siuslaw (OR)
Southeast Grain and Feed Dealers Association
Southern Illinois Construction Advancement Program
Southwestern Power Resources Association
Jim Smith Contracting
Smurfit Stone Container Corporation
Solana Beach, CA
South Bethany Beach, DE
SSA Marine, Inc.
John W. Stone Oil Distributor, Inc.
Sunshine Oil and Storage, Inc.
Surf City, NC
Village of Surfside Beach, TX
Tennessee River Valley Association
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Council
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority
Tennessee Valley Towing, Inc.
Terminal Express
Port of Toledo (OR)
Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District
Topsail Island Shoreline Protection Commission, NC
Topsail Beach, NC
Transportation, Elevator and Grain Merchants Association
Transportation Institute
Treasure Island Municipal Utility District, Brazoria County, TX
Tri-City Regional Port District
Trinity Marine Products, Inc.
TriOak Foods, Inc.
Tri State Economic Development Summit
Tulsa Port of Catoosa (OK)
Two Rivers Economic Development District
Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials
Twomey Company
Port of Umatilla (OR)
Port of Umpqua (OR)
United Soybean Board
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Great Lakes Shipping Association
U.S. Wheat Associates
Upper Mississippi Illinois and Missouri Rivers Association
Upper Mississippi Waterway Association
Upper Monongahela River Association
Upper River Services LLC
Ursa Farmers Cooperative
Port of Vancouver (WA)
City of Venice (FL)
Village Council of Bald Head Island (NC)
Wahkiakum County (WA)
Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway Association
Washington Association of Wheat Growers
Waterways Council, Inc.
The Waterways Journal
Weeks Marine, Inc.
West Central Illinois Building & Construction Trades Council
Western Kentucky Navigation, Inc.
West Virginia Public Port Authority
White River Coalition (AR)
Winona River and Rail
Wisconsin Agri-Service Association
Wisconsin Corn Growers Association
Women's Shipping Club of Portland (OR)