WASHINGTON D.C. – A win in Congress for growers across America.  Both the House of Representatives and the Senate overwhelmingly passed the 2024 Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.  President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill soon.

Ohio Corn & Wheat and national partners advocated for the passage of WRDA to help modernize the nation’s dams, ports, levees, and inland waterways.  This is an important development for Ohio growers who utilize the river barge system to export corn and wheat products through the Gulf Coast.

The bill authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to oversee the projects and provides for a permanent cost-share adjustment for construction and major rehabilitation projects. It also provides $1.4 billion additional dollars over a 10-year period for repairs and upgrades.

This is a big breakthrough in overcoming the transportation and infrastructure hurdles growers have faced in getting their products to the global market.