USA: Senator Franken Backs Up Dredging Projects

U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.) said Minnesota waterways and shipping infrastructure will get much-needed upgrades under the bipartisan Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), which passed the Senate recently and now heads to the President Obama’s desk to be signed into law.

The measure includes many bipartisan provisions Franken fought for, including increasing dredging on the Great Lakes’ harbors and shipping lanes, improving shipping infrastructure along the rivers, flood protection projects for Fargo-Moorhead and Roseau, and keeping invasive carp out of Minnesota’s waterways.

“Waterways are critical to Minnesota’s economic growth, and investing in our infrastructure will create jobs, help critical industries remain competitive, and provide protection from devastating natural disasters,” said Franken.

“I fought for provisions to improve shipping infrastructure in the Great Lakes and Mississippi River, protect the upper Mississippi from invasive carp, and help Minnesotans who are impacted yearly by flooding. Once this bill is signed into law, it will allow Minnesota to make critical improvements to our waterways, which will encourage growth in mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and construction.”

[mappress]

Press Release, May 27, 2014