Braley Supports Bill Providing Billions for Mississippi Lock and Dam Construction

Press Release

Braley Supports Bill Providing Billions for Mississippi Lock and Dam Construction

Today, Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Waterloo) supported a bill that will provide billions of dollars for Mississippi River lock and dam construction.

HR 1495, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), passed the House this afternoon. The bill authorizes $3.6 billion for a system of new locks and dams and environmental restoration along the Mississippi River, including millions of dollars for dam construction along the Iowa portion of the river.

"This bill contains critical funding to reconstruct the aging system of locks and dams along the Mississippi River," Braley said. "Barge traffic on the Mississippi carries Iowa agricultural and manufacturing products to the world. That's why it's so important to make sure the locks along the river that bear the burden of river traffic are modernized and brought to 21st Century standards.

"At the end of the day, this bill is simply good for Iowa's economic health."

The bill originated in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, of which Rep. Braley is a member. Braley helped push the WRDA bill through the Transportation Committee.

The bill contains specific provisions for lock and dam construction along the Iowa portion of the Mississippi:

* $4 million for Lock and Dam #11 north of Dubuque, for an environmental project.
* A portion of $235 million to construct new boat mooring facilities at Locks #12 and #14, located at Bellevue and LeClaire, Iowa, respectively.

Source