Congresswoman Angie Craig Seeks Minnesota River Funding
Rep. Craig asks U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to fund dredging on the Minnesota River to keep it commercially operational
Today, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asking them to prioritize funding to keep the Minnesota River operational.
"Minnesota's Second Congressional District depends on the Minnesota and Mississippi River systems to support economic growth," said Rep. Angie Craig. "It's unacceptable that the modest investment necessary to keep the Minnesota River channel near Savage fully operational was not included in the budget for FY2020."
The Minnesota River is a major agricultural tributary that transports approximately one-fourth of the 16 million tons annually shipped in and out of the state of Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Transportation has indicated that this has an annual economic value of more than $362 million.
Rep. Craig has been a strong advocate for Minnesota's rivers. In response to the floods in 2019, she secured $100 Million for Emergency Dredging on the Mississippi River. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, she will be shaping water resources policy through the Water Resources Development Act of 2020, where she will prioritize the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers.