I'm writing to request your support for funding America’s lock and dam infrastructure in FY24 Energy and Water Appropriations legislation. Specifically, I'm asking that at least $125 million from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund be matched by General Treasury funds in accordance with the cost share enacted and amended in WRDA 2020 and 2022. This provides enough funding to begin at least one new construction start, as recommended by the Inland Waterways Users Board's annual report, released December 2022. I'm also requesting at least $5.08 billion for Corps of Engineers Operation and Maintenance in its Civil Works program. Finally, I'm requesting your consideration of advancing the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) for the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway (UMR-IWW) via the Community Project Funding process. Supporting NESP would improve on what's already the lowest-cost, safest, lowest carbon footprint mode of surface transportation. Congress should support increased capacity and reliable usage of our locks for benefits to both our economy and environment. NESP will also restore, protect, and enhance the riverine and riparian habitat through ecosystem restoration measures designed to ensure the sustainability of home to 25 percent of North America’s fish species and a globally important flyway to 40 percent of North America’s migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. This transportation infrastructure is critical to America's farming families - U.S. agriculture exports are competitive in the global market only through the efficiencies barge transportation provides, and the lock and dam infrastructure is critical to that supply chain. America's locks and dams are woefully outdated - most were built in the 1930s, with 80 percent having outlived their design life. Barges move America's grain, but also fertilizer and other agriculture inputs, as well as manufactured products all consumers rely on daily. We simply could not put that tonnage on our roads or rail systems, so we need to keep river transportation infrastructure viable. Thank you for taking this letter into consideration, and your support of America's family farmers.

I'm writing to request your support for FY24 funding for the Nation's lock and dam infrastructure. Inland waterway locks and dams are critical to America's farming families - U.S. agriculture exports are competitive in the global market only through the efficiencies barge transportation provides, and the lock and dam infrastructure is critical to that supply chain. America's locks and dams are woefully outdated - most were built in the 1930s, with 70 percent having outlived their design life. Barges move America's grain, but also fertilizer and other agriculture inputs, as well as manufactured products all consumers rely on daily. We simply could not put that tonnage on our roads or rail systems, so we need to keep river transportation infrastructure viable. I'm writing to request your support in FY24 Energy and Water Appropriations legislation to ensure America’s lock and dam infrastructure is funded for maintenance and construction needs. Locks help barges move commodities that are the underpinning of our economy. Barges don’t get a lot of national attention but are a vital part of the nation’s supply chain. Steel, cement, road salt, chemicals, petroleum, and many other products that America’s manufacturing base rely on move on our waterways. They’re also key to moving agriculture exports that keep America's farming families competitive in the global market. Specifically, I'm asking that at least $125 million from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund be matched by General Treasury funds in accordance with the cost share enacted and amended in WRDA 2020 and 2022. I'm also requesting at least $5.08 billion for Corps of Engineers Operation and Maintenance in its Civil Works program. Finally, I'm requesting your consideration of advancing the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) for the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway (UMR-IWW) via the Community Project Funding process. Supporting NESP in FY24 at its capability of $120 million would improve on what's already the lowest-cost, safest, lowest carbon footprint mode of surface transportation. Congress should support increased capacity and reliable usage of our locks for benefits to both our economy and environment. NESP will also restore, protect, and enhance the riverine and riparian habitat through ecosystem restoration measures designed to ensure the sustainability of home to 25 percent of North America’s fish species and a globally important flyway to 40 percent of North America’s migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. Most of this transportation infrastructure was built in the 1930s, with nearly 80 percent having outlived their design life. Adequate funding for maintenance will ensure their reliability and future. The tonnage moving on our rivers each year could not be transferred to our roads or rail systems if our locks fall into disrepair. We need to keep river transportation infrastructure viable. Thank you for taking this letter into consideration, and your support of America's family farmers.

I'm writing to request your support for funding America’s lock and dam infrastructure in FY24 Energy and Water Appropriations legislation. Specifically, I'm asking that at least $125 million from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund be matched by General Treasury funds in accordance with the cost share enacted and amended in WRDA 2020 and 2022. This provides enough funding to begin at least one new construction start, as recommended by the Inland Waterways Users Board's annual report, released December 2022. I'm also requesting at least $5.08 billion for Corps of Engineers Operation and Maintenance in its Civil Works program. I'm writing to request your support in FY24 Energy and Water Appropriations legislation to ensure America’s lock and dam infrastructure is funded for maintenance and construction needs. Locks help barges move commodities that are the underpinning of our economy. Barges don’t get a lot of national attention but are a vital part of the nation’s supply chain. Steel, cement, road salt, chemicals, petroleum, and many other products that America’s manufacturing base rely on move on our waterways. They’re also key to moving agriculture exports that keep America's farming families competitive in the global market. Specifically, I'm asking that at least $125 million from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund be matched by General Treasury funds in accordance with the cost share enacted and amended in WRDA 2020 and 2022. I'm also requesting at least $5.08 billion for Corps of Engineers Operation and Maintenance in its Civil Works program. Finally, I'm requesting your consideration of advancing the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) for the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway (UMR-IWW) via the Community Project Funding process. Supporting NESP in FY24 at its capability of $120 million would improve on what's already the lowest-cost, safest, lowest carbon footprint mode of surface transportation. Congress should support increased capacity and reliable usage of our locks for benefits to both our economy and environment. NESP will also restore, protect, and enhance the riverine and riparian habitat through ecosystem restoration measures designed to ensure the sustainability of home to 25 percent of North America’s fish species and a globally important flyway to 40 percent of North America’s migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. Most of this transportation infrastructure was built in the 1930s, with nearly 80 percent having outlived their design life. Adequate funding for maintenance will ensure their reliability and future. The tonnage moving on our rivers each year could not be transferred to our roads or rail systems if our locks fall into disrepair. We need to keep river transportation infrastructure viable. Our inland rivers and waterways provide a vital transportation network to move products we all use, every day. Barges are often forgotten, but are a critical part of the nation’s supply chain. Barges move the products that are the underpinnings of our economy - petroleum, cement, steel, coal, etc... It’s also key to moving agriculture exports that keep America's farming families competitive in the global market. America's locks and dams are woefully outdated - most were built in the 1930s, with nearly 80 percent having outlived their design life. Funding the maintenance of locks helps ensure their reliability and future. We simply could not put the tonnage that moves on water each year on our roads or rail systems, so we need to keep river transportation infrastructure viable.

I'm writing to request your support for funding America’s lock and dam infrastructure in FY24 Energy and Water Appropriations legislation. Specifically, I'm asking that at least $125 million from the diesel fuel user fee paid by commercial operators into the Inland Waterways Trust Fund be matched by General Treasury funds. This provides enough funding to begin at least one new construction start on needed projects. I'm also requesting at least $5.08 billion for Corps of Engineers Operation and Maintenance in its Civil Works program. I'm writing to request your support in FY24 Energy and Water Appropriations legislation to ensure America’s lock and dam infrastructure is funded for maintenance and construction needs. Locks help barges move commodities that are the underpinning of our economy. Barges don’t get a lot of national attention but are a vital part of the nation’s supply chain. Steel, cement, road salt, chemicals, petroleum, and many other products that America’s manufacturing base rely on move on our waterways. They’re also key to moving agriculture exports that keep America's farming families competitive in the global market. Specifically, I'm asking that at least $125 million from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund be matched by General Treasury funds in accordance with the cost share enacted and amended in WRDA 2020 and 2022. I'm also requesting at least $5.08 billion for Corps of Engineers Operation and Maintenance in its Civil Works program. Finally, I'm requesting your consideration of advancing the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) for the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway (UMR-IWW) via the Community Project Funding process. Supporting NESP in FY24 at its capability of $120 million would improve on what's already the lowest-cost, safest, lowest carbon footprint mode of surface transportation. Congress should support increased capacity and reliable usage of our locks for benefits to both our economy and environment. NESP will also restore, protect, and enhance the riverine and riparian habitat through ecosystem restoration measures designed to ensure the sustainability of home to 25 percent of North America’s fish species and a globally important flyway to 40 percent of North America’s migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. Most of this transportation infrastructure was built in the 1930s, with nearly 80 percent having outlived their design life. Adequate funding for maintenance will ensure their reliability and future. The tonnage moving on our rivers each year could not be transferred to our roads or rail systems if our locks fall into disrepair. We need to keep river transportation infrastructure viable. Our inland rivers and waterways provide a vital transportation network to move products we all use, every day. Barges are often forgotten, but are a critical part of the nation’s supply chain. Barges move the products that are the underpinnings of our economy - petroleum, cement, steel, coal, etc... It’s also key to moving agriculture exports that keep America's farming families competitive in the global market. America's locks and dams are woefully outdated - most were built in the 1930s, with nearly 80 percent having outlived their design life. Funding the maintenance of locks helps ensure their reliability and future. We simply could not put the tonnage that moves on water each year on our roads or rail systems, so we need to keep river transportation infrastructure viable. Thank you for taking this letter into consideration, and your support of America's family farmers.

Family farmers rely on transportation to keep us competing in the global market - and a big part of that is river transportation. I'm writing to request your support in FY24 Energy and Water Appropriations legislation to ensure America’s lock and dam infrastructure is funded for maintenance and construction needs. Locks help barges move commodities that are the underpinning of our economy. Barges don’t get a lot of national attention but are a vital part of the nation’s supply chain. Steel, cement, road salt, chemicals, petroleum, and many other products that America’s manufacturing base rely on move on our waterways. They’re also key to moving agriculture exports that keep America's farming families competitive in the global market. Specifically, I'm asking that at least $125 million from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund be matched by General Treasury funds in accordance with the cost share enacted and amended in WRDA 2020 and 2022. I'm also requesting at least $5.08 billion for Corps of Engineers Operation and Maintenance in its Civil Works program. I'm writing to request your support in FY24 Energy and Water Appropriations legislation to ensure America’s lock and dam infrastructure is funded for maintenance and construction needs. Locks help barges move commodities that are the underpinning of our economy. Barges don’t get a lot of national attention but are a vital part of the nation’s supply chain. Steel, cement, road salt, chemicals, petroleum, and many other products that America’s manufacturing base rely on move on our waterways. They’re also key to moving agriculture exports that keep America's farming families competitive in the global market. Specifically, I'm asking that at least $125 million from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund be matched by General Treasury funds in accordance with the cost share enacted and amended in WRDA 2020 and 2022. I'm also requesting at least $5.08 billion for Corps of Engineers Operation and Maintenance in its Civil Works program. Finally, I'm requesting your consideration of advancing the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) for the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway (UMR-IWW) via the Community Project Funding process. Supporting NESP in FY24 at its capability of $120 million would improve on what's already the lowest-cost, safest, lowest carbon footprint mode of surface transportation. Congress should support increased capacity and reliable usage of our locks for benefits to both our economy and environment. NESP will also restore, protect, and enhance the riverine and riparian habitat through ecosystem restoration measures designed to ensure the sustainability of home to 25 percent of North America’s fish species and a globally important flyway to 40 percent of North America’s migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. Most of this transportation infrastructure was built in the 1930s, with nearly 80 percent having outlived their design life. Adequate funding for maintenance will ensure their reliability and future. The tonnage moving on our rivers each year could not be transferred to our roads or rail systems if our locks fall into disrepair. We need to keep river transportation infrastructure viable. Thank you for taking this letter into consideration, and your support of funding locks and dams in the FY24 Appropriations bill.