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National Public Policy Organization News

16 Jun 2020

Waterways Council, Inc.’s 2020 Vision

© PeekCC/AdobeStock

Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) is the national public policy organization that advocates for a modern, efficient inland waterways system. Abiding by our mission has meant success over our 17-year history. In 2020, WCI’s top priority is to conform the cost-share for Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF)-financed construction projects to require 25% of the project cost be derived from the IWTF and the remaining 75% from General Revenues. The policy vehicle for this adjustment is the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)…

16 Feb 2018

WCI Presents Leadership Award to Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

On February 14, 2018, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) received Waterways Council, Inc.'s (WCI) 17th Annual Leadership Service Award for his strong and continued leadership on ports and inland waterways issues. He was presented the award by Stephen Little, Chairman of Crounse Corporation. WCI President & CEO Mike Toohey said, “We were honored to have the opportunity to celebrate Senator McConnell, who has been a stalwart advocate for the inland waterways in his state of Kentucky, but throughout the United States. Also on February 14, 2018, recently retired former U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Chief of the Navigation Branch Jeffrey A. McKee received the 2018 Waterways Counsel Award for his diligence and leadership in working with the waterways industry.

21 Sep 2015

WCI/ICMB Agriculture Video Educates Millions

WCI and the Illinois Corn Marketing Board have undertaken a campaign with Google and YouTube to raise public awareness about the critical importance of inland waterways transportation to production agriculture. The goal of the campaign is to have more than one million people view WCI’s 30-second video, “Inland Waterways Are Critical to Agriculture!”  The campaign began August 10 and, to date, more than one million people (1,064,882) have viewed the entire video about the importance of efficient, modern waterways to the transport of agriculture products. There has been a corresponding increase in first-time visitors to WCI’s web site, with a 77% increase in new sessions/new visitors in one month since the campaign began. The campaign will continue until October 10.

23 Apr 2015

Strong FY 16 Funding Approved for Corps

Today the House Appropriations Committee, led by Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY), approved by unanimous voice vote the FY ’16 Energy & Water Development (E&WD) and Related Agencies appropriations bill, significantly increasing funding in Fiscal Year 2016 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works Program. The overall size of the Corps’ Civil Works mission portion of the bill is $5.597 billion and more than restores cuts to the program as recommended by the Administration, adding $864.75 million to the Administration request and increasing the FY 2015 appropriated amount for the Corps by $142.25 million. The bill increases the President’s proposed Construction account funding level by 39.9% to $1.631 billion.

08 Nov 2014

Routine USACE Levee Work Halts Mississippi Traffic

An Inland Pushboat moves its cargo to market (file photo)

Fully loaded barges headed to export market abruptly halted. Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) and its agricultural and other commodity shipper members and towboat operators are reacting to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to perform, over the next 13 days, routine work that involves laying concrete mats that protect the river bank for flood protection. This requires traffic restrictions for towboats moving barges and other vessels while the mats are laid. A three-mile stretch of the Mississippi River near Memphis at Mile Marker 632-635 was closed at 6 a.m.

15 Apr 2013

WCI Reacts to President's Budget Proposal

The US Waterways Council Inc. (WCI) has mixed feelings about the impact on their sector of President Obama's FY 2014 budget proposals. This budget is steady-state with the overall funding level essentially the continuation of the post-sequester level for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works Program at $4.726 billion for FY ’14. While details are still unknown according to Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy, the Administration’s per-vessel user fee proposal remains unwelcome by industry. The proposed level of funding for the Corps’ Operations & Maintenance (O&M) -- $2.588 billion, is encouraging, but the funding level for its Construction account ($135 billion is very disappointing.

19 Feb 2013

Waterways Council, Inc. Endorses River Act of 2013

WCI President/CEO Michael J. Toohey

In a special meeting called to consider this proposal, the Executive Committee of Waterways Council, Inc. unanimously voted to support The Reinvesting in Vital Economic Rivers and Waterways (RIVER) Act of 2013, has announced  by its sponsor, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA). The plan, introduced in Pittsburgh -- where some of the most aged locks and dams reside -- would establish a sustainable, cost-effective way to ensure that the inland and intra-coastal waterways of the United States remain economically viable.

16 Nov 2012

AWO, WCI Address Mississippi River Conditions

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, Barge Industry and Shipping Industry Representatives Hold Press Conference to Address Ongoing Mississippi River Navigation Concerns Due to Continued Drought and Low Water Conditions. Representatives of the barge and shipping industries, along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Coast Guard, held a press conference on the Mississippi River near St. Louis to address navigation and shipping concerns, as well as government-industry cooperation in managing the Mississippi River during continued drought and low water conditions.

27 Sep 2012

Postal Service to Honor Barge Fleeting

U.S. Postal Stamp: "Barge Fleeting," an aerial view of towing vessels.

U.S. Postal Service to dedicate Earthscapes Forver stamps to include "Barge Fleeting," an aerial view of towing vessels. WHAT: The United States Postal Service will dedicate a series of Forever Stamps entitled “Earthscapes,” one which features an aerial view of Kirby Corporation’s Apollo and Enterprise Marine Services LLC’s Taurus commercial tow boats positioning themselves against liquid tank barges in the Old River Barge Fleeting area near the Houston Ship Channel in Texas. WHEN: 2:30 p.m., Monday, October 1, 2012; the event is free and open to the public. WHO: Speakers will be William J.

31 May 2012

WCI Names Colbert SVP

Debra A. Colbert, WCI Senior Vice President.

The Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) Board of Directors has named Debra A. Colbert as Senior Vice President, effective June 1, 2012. Colbert currently serves as Director of Communications and Media Relations for the organization and has served with WCI since its inception in 2004, developing the communications program of its predecessor organization, Waterways Work! Prior to her work with WCI, Colbert served as President of Colbert Communications, a communications consultancy practice that offered media relations…

11 Jan 2012

WCI to Honor Rahall with 2012 Leadership Award

U.S. Congressman Nick J. Rahall, II (WV-03)

U.S. Congressman Nick Rahall to receive 11th Annual Waterways Council Leadership Service Award. U.S. Congressman Nick J. Rahall, II (WV-03) will receive the Eleventh Annual Waterways Council, Inc. Leadership Service Award on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Washington, DC. A reception will be held at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and the Leadership Award presentation. U.S. Representative Rahall, a West Virginia native who represents his state’s Third Congressional District…

31 Oct 2011

WCI Names New Officers and Directors

WCI Chairman Matt Woodruff (Director, Government Affairs, Kirby Corporation)

Waterways Council, Inc. At its Annual Meeting on October 19 in Pittsburgh, the Board of Directors of Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) elected the following new officers for 2011-2013: Chairman, Matt Woodruff, (Director, Government Affairs, Kirby Corporation); Vice Chairman, Steve Little, (President, Crounse Corporation); General Counsel, Dan Mecklenborg, (Senior Vice President, HR & Chief Legal Officer, Ingram Barge Company); Immediate Past Chairman, Rick Calhoun, (President, Cargo Carriers). All other officers were re-elected to their current positions.

22 Jul 2011

Mike Toohey Tapped to Lead Waterways Council, Inc.

Washington, DC – It was announced today that Mike Toohey has been selected to become President and CEO of Waterways Council, Inc. by the organization’s Search and Executive Committees. A special meeting of the WCI Board of Directors has been called for August 2, 2011 to formally consider his election to the organization’s presidency. With more than 30 years of federal government expertise, Mr. Toohey most recently served as Consultant with The Livingston Group’s Transportation, Shipbuilding, Shipping and Ports practice area. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Government Affairs for Ashland Inc., a global chemical, energy and construction company. During his 19 years with the Ashland, Mr.

09 Dec 2009

Calhoun Named Chair WCI

Photo courtesy Waterways Council, Inc.

Rick Calhoun, president of Cargill Marine and Terminal, Inc., has been elected chairman of the Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI), the national public policy organization advocating a modern and well-maintained national system of ports and inland waterways. “We are at a critical juncture in the U.S. waterways,” Calhoun said. “The waterways infrastructure is aging, with more than half of our nation’s 240 lock chambers operated by the U.S. WCI is supported by more than 200 waterways carriers…

23 Feb 2009

Harkin to Receive Waterways Council Award

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) will receive the Eighth Annual Waterways Council, Inc. Leadership Service Award on Wednesday, February 25, 2009, at 6 p.m. at the Willard Hotel, Washington, DC. Senator Harkin will be honored for his steadfast commitment to the improvement of the Nation’s ports and commercial inland waterways system over his many years in Congress. Harkin worked to broaden the support for locks and dam improvements crafting a measure with Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) that made improvements to environmental programs on the Upper Mississippi River. That resulted in a broadening of the coalition in support of moving forward with both improved locks and environmental mitigation. The measure was passed as a part of the 2007 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).

05 Dec 2008

Waterways Council - Officers & Directors

At the Annual Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) Membership Meeting and Board of Directors Meeting held October 29 in St. Louis, the following officers and Executive Committee members were elected to serve or continue service for 2008-2009:  Dan Mecklenborg, Senior Vice President, HR & Chief Legal Officer, Ingram Barge Company, remains as Chairman of the Board; Cornel Martin, was elected President and CEO; Steve Little, President and CEO, Crounse Corporation, remains as General Counsel; Peter Stephaich, Chairman, Campbell Transportation Co., was re-elected Secretary; Cherrie Felder, Vice President, Channel Shipyard, remains as Treasurer. Former WCI President and CEO R. Barry Palmer was named President Emeritus. Also named to new terms as officers were Richard R.

15 Apr 2008

Palmer to Retire from WCI

Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) Chairman Dan Mecklenborg announced that an executive search has begun to identify a successor for R. Barry Palmer, WCI President/CEO, who has announced his intention to retire at the end of this year. WCI’s Executive Committee has retained JDG Associates, Ltd., , to conduct the national search for a successor for Mr. Palmer. A search committee to evaluate both internal and external candidates, led by Chairman Mecklenborg, has been organized and is composed of WCI Executive Committee members Rick Calhoun…

04 Feb 2005

Waterways Council Praises Schubert

Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI), the national public policy organization that advocates for a modern and well-maintained system of ports and inland waterways, today praised the three-and-a-half year tenure of U.S. Maritime Administrator (MarAd) Captain William G. Schubert, who announced his resignation, effective February 12. Throughout his service to MarAd, Captain Schubert met regularly with WCI in Washington, DC, and devoted untold time and attention to the issues facing the inland waterways industry. Among his accomplishments, Captain Schubert developed a central web site repository within MarAd to catalogue all relevant inland waterways industry studies and data…

02 Aug 2005

AAPA Seminar to Focus on Shallow-Draft Ports

While seaports that handle ocean-going ships often garner headlines for their security and environmental programs, and cargo and passenger handling news, the role and benefits of the world’s vast inland waterway systems are not as well known. However, shallow-draft waterways and ports, which primarily accommodate towboats, barges, pleasure craft and touring vessels, are an integral part of a nation’s maritime system and serve as an economic and jobs generator. With its inaugural Shallow-Draft Ports seminar slated for the Sheraton Station Square Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Oct. 5-6, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) hopes to improve the maritime industry’s understanding of inland waterways and ports, and point out ways to better utilize them.