BLOOMINGTON, ILL – November 9, 2021 – As Congress passed a historic $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill on Friday, November 5, the Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG) celebrated the passage that will rebuild the nation’s deteriorating roads and bridges and fund new climate resilience and broadband initiatives. This bill makes historic investments in U.S. infrastructure and will greatly impact the competitiveness of soy and other agricultural products for years to come.
“Infrastructure sits at the core of agriculture’s long-term success and our ability to remain competitive in the global marketplace,” says Steve Pitstick, Illinois Soybean Association Board Chairman. “Improved locks, dams and supply chains across the state of Illinois will enable soy’s timely exports and increased efficiencies.”
Over the next five years, the infrastructure package will invest an additional $550 billion in our nation’s infrastructure, including a $65 billion investment to improve broadband service to rural communities. It will invest $17 billion in port infrastructure and $25 billion in airports to address repair and maintenance backlogs, reduce congestion and emissions near ports and airports.
Illinois’ waterways will see long-overdue upgrades as the bill contains $2.5 billion in inland waterways funding, updating key locks and dams along the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers with new parallel 1200-foot chambers to make barge travel more efficient for bulk products.
“This legislation proves that both sides of the political aisle can still come together around solutions that meet the needs of our country and our industry,” says Mike Levin, ISA Senior Director of Government Affairs. “This is what it looks like when our voices are heard, and our people are given the tools they need to succeed into the next generation.”
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) checkoff and membership programs represent more than 43,000 soybean farmers in Illinois. The checkoff funds market development and utilization efforts while the membership program supports the government relations interests of Illinois soybean farmers at the local, state, and national level, through the Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG). ISA upholds the interests of Illinois soybean producers through promotion, advocacy, and education with the vision of becoming a market leader in sustainable soybean production and profitability. For more information, visit the website www.ilsoy.org and www.ilsoygrowers.com.
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Media Contact:
Rachel Peabody
Director of Communications
Illinois Soybean Association
(217) 825-7654
Peabodyr@ilsoy.org
