Missouri Farm Bureau president Blake Hurst issued the following statement on the passage of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act. “We are  pleased

the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) by a vote of 417 to 3. For farmers in Missouri and other states across the country, cost-effective transportation from farm to market is extremely important to American agriculture’s overall competitiveness in the global marketplace. Our infrastructure is aging and investments are needed to ensure we have a reliable system of inland waterways and ports for 21st century commerce.

We thank Missouri’s U.S. representatives for their strong support of the WRRDA and appreciate their ongoing efforts, led by Congressman Luetkemeyer, to press for common-sense reforms in the Missouri River mitigation/habitat restoration strategies pursued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies.

We encourage congressional leaders to move quickly in appointing members to a conference committee to reconcile the House and Senate-passed bills. We remain hopeful the WRRDA and a new five-year farm bill will be enacted before the end of the year.