Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) Offers New Waterways Funding Proposal

WCI Executive Committee Endorses River Act of 2013

Waterways Council Inc. Release
15 February 2013

In a special meeting called yesterday to consider this proposal, WCI’s Executive Committee unanimously voted to support The Reinvesting in Vital Economic Rivers and Waterways (RIVER) Act of 2013, announced today by its sponsor, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA).  The plan, introduced in Pittsburgh, would establish a sustainable, cost-effective way to ensure that the inland and intra-coastal waterways of the United States remain economically viable.  This bill would modernize America’s inland waterways system, create jobs, relieve traffic congestion, and optimize American competitiveness through the most low-cost, energy-efficient transportation mode.     

The River Act of 2013, based upon the elements contained in the Inland Waterways Capital Development Plan, would:
The River Act of 2013 represents a new approach to meet the long-standing, recognized need for efficient delivery and timely completion of critical navigation projects and sustainable funding for the Inland Waterways Trust Fund.  The nation’s transportation system and taxpayers would benefit from the completion of essential navigation infrastructure and the containment of cost overruns.

The proposal would:
WCI President/CEO Michael J. Toohey participated in the announcement in Pittsburgh and said this in a press release issued today: “We applaud Senator Casey’s effort in devising the River Act that will modernize our critically important inland navigation system and its infrastructure.  Modern waterways are critical to U.S. competitiveness in the world market, to environmental protection, to energy efficiency, to highway congestion relief and to the sustainment of well-paying American jobs.  They benefit the U.S. agricultural sector, our construction industry, our energy sector, our environment, our economy, and all the beneficiaries of the waterways system.”