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Bill introduced to help keep river traffic flowing

By WEEK Producer

Bill introduced to help keep river traffic flowing

March 14, 2013 Updated Mar 14, 2013 at 8:47 PM CDT

ILLINOIS -- Members of Illinois's Congressional delegation, from both parties, have introduced a bill to keep one of the state's economic lifelines from faltering.

Senator Dick Durbin, and Congressmen Bill Enyart and Rodney Davis, are pushing the bill after record low water levels on the Mississippi this summer threatened commerce in Southern Illinois.

The "Mississippi River Navigation Sustainment Act" would help the Army Corps of Engineers, the Coast Guard, and local businesses to respond quickly to extreme weather that could jeopardize the region's economy.

It would also boost efforts to maintain commercial traffic on the Mississippi River during droughts and floods.

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