March 4, 2002 - Introduced by Representatives Freese, Gronemus, Loeffelholz,
Musser, Hahn, Hoven
and Sykora. Referred to Committee on Rules.
AR56,1,3 1Relating to: urging authorization of funding for modernization of lock and dam
2infrastructure on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers' Inland Waterways
3Transportation System.
AR56,1,54 Whereas, the state of Wisconsin borders or contains over 360 miles of the upper
5Mississippi River and 11 navigation locks and dams along those borders; and
AR56,1,96 Whereas, many of Wisconsin's locks and dams are more than 60 years old and
7only 600 feet long, making them unable to accommodate modern barge tows of 1,200
8feet long, nearly tripling locking times and causing lengthy delays and ultimately
9increasing shipping costs; and
AR56,1,1210 Whereas, the use of 1,200-foot locks has been proven nationwide as the best
11method of improving efficiency, reducing congestion, and modernizing the inland
12waterways; and
AR56,2,213 Whereas, the construction of the lock and dam system has spurred economic
14growth and a higher standard of living in the Mississippi and Illinois river basin, and

1today supplies more than 300,000,000 tons of the nation's cargo, supporting more
2than 400,000 jobs, including 90,000 in manufacturing; and
AR56,2,53 Whereas, more than 60% of American agricultural exports, including corn,
4wheat, and soybeans, are shipped down the Mississippi and Illinois rivers on the way
5to foreign markets; and
AR56,2,96 Whereas, Wisconsin farmers, producers, and consumers rely on efficient
7transportation to remain competitive in a global economy, and efficiencies in river
8transport offset higher production costs compared to those incurred by foreign
9competitors; and
AR56,2,1310 Whereas, the upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers lock and dam system saves
11our nation more than $1.5 billion in higher transportation costs each year, and failing
12to construct 1,200-foot locks will cause farmers to use more expensive alternative
13modes of transportation, including trucks and trains; and
AR56,2,1614 Whereas, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, congestion along the
15upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers is costing Wisconsin and other producers and
16consumers in the basin $98,000,000 per year in higher transportation costs; and
AR56,2,2017 Whereas, river transportation is the most environmentally friendly form of
18transporting goods and commodities, creating almost no noise pollution and emitting
1935% to 60% fewer pollutants than either trucks or trains, according to the U.S.
20Environmental Protection Agency; and
AR56,2,2321 Whereas, moving away from river transport would add millions of trucks and
22railcars to our nation's infrastructure, adding air pollution, traffic congestion, and
23greater wear and tear on highways; and
AR56,2,2524 Whereas, backwater lakes created by the lock and dam system provide
25breeding grounds for migratory waterfowl and fish; and
AR56,3,3
1Whereas, the lakes and 500 miles of wildlife refuge also support a
2one-billion-dollar per year recreational industry, including hunting, fishing, and
3tourism jobs; and
AR56,3,64 Whereas, upgrading the system of locks and dams on the upper Mississippi and
5Illinois rivers will provide 3,000 construction and related jobs over a 15-year to
620-year period; and
AR56,3,87 Whereas, in 1999 the state of Wisconsin shipped 1,100,000 tons of commodities,
8including grain, coal, chemicals, aggregates, and other products; and
AR56,3,119 Whereas, 3,900,000 tons of commodities, including grain, coal, chemicals,
10aggregates, and other products, were shipped to, from, and within Wisconsin by
11barge, representing $313,000,000 in value; and
AR56,3,1312 Whereas, shippers moving by barge in Wisconsin realized a savings of
13approximately $40,000,000 compared to other transportation modes; and
AR56,3,1514 Whereas, Wisconsin docks shipped products by barge to 6 states and received
15products from 11 states; and
AR56,3,1816 Whereas, there are approximately 20 manufacturing facilities, terminals, and
17docks on the waterways of Wisconsin, representing thousands of jobs in the state;
18and
AR56,3,2119 Whereas, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting a collaborative
20navigation study of the economic and environmental factors to be considered when
21examining capital improvements to the upper Mississippi River system; and
AR56,3,2322 Whereas, the navigation study will release initial results in a summer 2002
23report; now, therefore, be it
AR56,4,3
1Resolved by the assembly, That the Wisconsin assembly formally recognizes
2the upper Mississippi River as a river of statewide significance for natural,
3navigational, and recreational benefits; and, be it further
AR56,4,8 4Resolved, That the Wisconsin assembly recognizes the importance of timely
5modernization of the inland waterway transportation infrastructure to Wisconsin
6agriculture and industry in this state, the region, and the nation and, pending results
7of the navigation study, urges Congress to authorize funding to construct 1,200-foot
8locks on the upper Mississippi and Illinois river system; and, be it further
AR56,4,13 9Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall transmit copies of this
10resolution to the president and secretary of the U.S. senate, the speaker and clerk
11of the U.S. house of representatives, the chair of the senate committee on commerce,
12science, and transportation, the chair of the house committee on transportation and
13infrastructure, and the members of the congressional delegation from this state.
AR56,4,1414 (End)
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