House Resolution 92

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO AUTHORIZE A COMPREHENSIVE RELIABILITY REPORT ON MARINE HIGHWAY 65 IN THE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2026.

WHEREAS, Marine Highway 65 (M-65), which includes the Tennessee River, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, the Tombigbee River, the Black Warrior River and the Mobile River system, is a vital component of the national inland waterway transportation network and serves as a critical economic corridor for the State of Mississippi and the southeastern United States; and

WHEREAS, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway traverses the State of Mississippi for approximately 234 miles and directly supports the Port of Yellow Creek, the Port of Itawamba, the Port of Amory, the Port of Aberdeen, the Port of Clay County, and the Port of Lowndes County, along with numerous private terminals, industries and multimodal facilities located within the state; and

WHEREAS, industries located along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway in Mississippi rely upon efficient barge transportation for the shipment of steel, coal, petroleum products, forest products, aggregates, agricultural commodities, and manufactured goods, supporting thousands of direct and indirect jobs and generating substantial state and local tax revenues; and

WHEREAS, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway has generated billions of dollars in cumulative private investment within the State of Mississippi since its completion and continues to provide a competitive transportation advantage that strengthens economic development, industrial recruitment, and export capacity; and

WHEREAS, the United States Maritime Administration has designated Marine Highway 65 as part of the Marine Highway Program, and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority serves as the nonfederal sponsor for M-65; and

WHEREAS, the efficient and reliable operation of locks and dams along Marine Highway 65 is essential to the uninterrupted movement of commercial navigation, energy resources, agricultural commodities, and manufactured goods that support employment, industry and economic growth within Mississippi and the region; and

WHEREAS, recent incidents and ongoing infrastructure concerns, including lock failures and operational disruptions at the Demopolis Lock, the Holt Lock and the Wilson Lock, demonstrate the vulnerability of aging navigation infrastructure and the potential for significant economic harm resulting from unexpected closures or reduced reliability; and

WHEREAS, additional deficiencies in navigation infrastructure along the Marine Highway 65 corridor present risks to system reliability, supply chain efficiency, and national economic security; and

WHEREAS, a comprehensive reliability report evaluating the condition, performance history and risk profile of locks and related navigation infrastructure along Marine Highway 65 would provide essential information to guide investment decisions, maintenance priorities, and long-term planning; and

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi is a founding member of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority, a four-state compact with Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee ratified by the Congress of the United States, and the Authority has formally requested that Congress authorize such a reliability report in the Water Resources Development Act of 2026; and

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi has a substantial interest in the long-term reliability, safety, and economic viability of Marine Highway 65 for the benefit of Mississippi workers, industries, ports and communities:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby respectfully urge the United States Congress to include in the Water Resources Development Act of 2026, authorization for the United States Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a comprehensive reliability report on Marine Highway 65, including, but not limited to, documented lock failures at the Demopolis Lock, the Holt Lock and the Wilson Lock, and an assessment of other infrastructure deficiencies that could negatively impact navigation along the corridor.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Mississippi Legislature supports the request of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority and encourages prompt federal action to ensure the continued reliability and resilience of Marine Highway 65 as a matter of state, regional, and national importance.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, the members of the Mississippi Congressional Delegation, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.