Today, Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR), Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI), Congressman Stephen Fincher (R-TN), Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN) along with Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced the formation of the Mississippi River Caucus. The primary objective of the caucus is to provide a bicameral and bipartisan open forum for the various issues that affect the entire reach of the Mississippi River.

The Caucus will focus on a strong sustainable economy and high quality of life for communities along the main stem of the Mississippi River. By sponsoring informational briefings for Members of Congress and collaborating on legislative goals, the Mississippi River Caucus will support commerce, flood mitigation, protection, and restoration along the Mississippi River.

Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR): “The Mississippi River is the lifeline farm families and business owners in my Arkansas district rely on for commerce. The bipartisan, bicameral Mississippi River Caucus will be a united voice for the communities along the river and the challenges they face. I look forward to working with other members of the caucus to keep our ports open and goods moving up and down the river.”

Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI): “The Mississippi River plays a vital role in our economy and our quality of life not just in western Wisconsin but in all of states along its path,” said Rep. Kind, founder and Co-chair of the Upper Mississippi River Basin Congressional Task Force. “I’m proud to have worked hard on behalf of the river and the farms, businesses and communities it impacts and look forward to the bipartisan progress we will be able to make as a caucus. Ensuring the protection of the river is vital to the long-term sustainability of the entire Mississippi River Basin.”

Congressman Stephen Fincher (R-TN): “A thriving Mississippi River creates a thriving economy. Its ports are an economic driver and job creator for many communities along the river. I am excited to be a part of the leadership team in Congress working to ensure the communities along the main stem of the Mississippi River can continue providing good jobs and the harbors are able to support strong commerce.”

Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN): “The Mississippi River is at the heart of both our nations shipping and sporting industries. For hundreds of years American made goods have followed the snakes and bends down the river’s path, while hunters and fisherman have followed its shores. In order for American farmers and manufacturers to stay competitive in a 21st century world economy, we must ensure the Mississippi River continues to provide a safe, modern, efficient, and effective avenue for shipment while balancing the need to maintain its natural character for future generations of sportsmen.”

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO): “The Mississippi River is a vital artery of commerce for hundreds of millions of tons of agriculture goods and other products that are important to our national economy. We must work to maintain the river channel, which has a critical impact on jobs, income to many businesses and farmers, and the economy of the region as a whole. This bipartisan caucus will provide a platform to bring together those states along the Mississippi River so that we can encourage navigation, promote commerce, and prevent destructive floods.”

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA): “We learned a vital lesson this past fall when a potential disruption in navigation along the Mississippi threatened everything from increasing the cost to move goods to potential job losses. The river and its communities play an important role in commerce and the local economy,” said Harkin. “The Mississippi River Caucus will look at ways that the Congress can be helpful to the cities and towns along the River to improve their economies and their quality of life, and to better respond to floods and other threats. I am pleased to work on a bipartisan, bicameral basis in this effort and I look forward to the work ahead.”

The Mississippi River is the second longest river in the United States, stretching 2,320 miles through the heart of our nation from Lake Itasca in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River and its floodplain are rich in biodiversity, as it is home to hundreds of different species of fish, birds, mussels, mammals, amphibians and reptiles. The Mississippi River is also a thriving economic thoroughfare in the United States with billions of tons of cargo being transported up and down the river each year, including grain and other agriculture products, coal, iron, steel, and petroleum products.

Congressman Rick Crawford represents Arkansas’s First Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. Crawford serves on the Agriculture Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. On the Agriculture Committee, Crawford is Chairman of the Livestock, Rural Development and Credit Subcommittee. Congressman Crawford and his wife Stacy live in Jonesboro with their two children. Click HERE to learn more about Congressman Crawford.

Today, Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR), Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI), Congressman Stephen Fincher (R-TN), Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN) along with Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced the formation of the Mississippi River Caucus. The primary objective of the caucus is to provide a bicameral and bipartisan open forum for the various issues that affect the entire reach of the Mississippi River.