Congressman Childers Addresses Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Conference
Press Release
Congressman Childers Addresses Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Conference
Congressman Travis Childers (D-MS) will address the annual Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Opportunities Conference this week. The Congressman arrives in Mobile, Ala. today, and will keynote tomorrow afternoon's meeting.
"A large portion of the Tenn-Tom Waterway runs through Mississippi's First Congressional District, and several of its locks are located there," said Congressman Childers. "The Tenn-Tom Waterway is of large economic importance to the communities it occupies, and has a significant impact on industrial development and growth, as well as job creation. Waterborne transportation is also especially advantageous in terms of cost, the environment, and safety."
Inland barges carry approximately 15 percent of the nation's freight at the lowest unit cost while offering an environmentally-sound alternative to transporting necessary goods. Shallow-draft water transportation is also remote from population centers, reducing both the number and impact of waterway incidents.
Congressman Childers has served on the Yellow Creek Inland Port Authority of the Tenn-Tom Waterway for 14 of the past 18 years.
"I have a keen interest in the nation's waterways, and I'm committed to supporting this vital system," said Congressman Childers. "I will work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that the waterway is properly funded and maintained, and will advocate for measures to ensure the system has the necessary resources to continue to develop and grow."
Last month, the Congressman, who is a member of the House Agriculture Committee, met with the Southern Cotton Ginners Association at their summer meeting in Biloxi, Miss., where members discussed the importance of the Tenn-Tom Waterway to the agriculture industry and the transportation of agricultural products.
This week, Congressman Childers will meet with various Tenn-Tom Waterway Conference attendees to discuss topics such as industrial development, job creation, and the advantages of waterborne transportation.
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