During a news conference Monday at Klingner & amp; Associates engineering firm in Quincy, Hare pledged his support for several river issues.

"President Bush slashed the corps' (construction) budget by $1 billion. We're trying to put money back in," Hare said.

The Water Resources Development Act was approved by Congress last year, calling for $1.95 billion in lock construction and nearly $1.6 billion for ecosystem restoration. New, 1,200-foot lock chambers would be built along the upper Mississippi River at Quincy, and the Missouri communities of Canton, Saverton, Clarksville and Winfield.

Two similar locks would be built on the Illinois River at LaGrange and Peoria. The new locks would allow barge tows to pass through in one operation rather than being broken into two segments to fit through 600-foot lock chambers.

Shippers and lock operators say each barge that must be split and then reassembled after locking through can add two to six hours to shipping at each of the smaller locks.

Hare said WRDA support is evident in Congress, where members approved the bill by more than a 2-to-1 margin to override a presidential veto.

Officials say the lock expansions would create 40,000 to 50,000 jobs over several years in the region. Part of that funding will come from the Inland Waterways Fund, which receives money from fuel taxes paid by boaters and barge operators.

Hare, a first-term House member, also plans to contact members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency after hearing complaints from local constituents.

Engineer Mike Klingner said FEMA has become one of the controlling agencies involved in river projects. Yet levee district officials in the region have reported that FEMA contacts have not returned phone calls when asked for agency standards on river projects.

"That's just rude not to return phone calls," Hare said.

In addition, Hare hopes to get funding to study hydroelectric potential at three lock and dam sites where the city of Quincy holds options. The city hopes to pursue electric generation at river facilities near Quincy and the Missouri communities of Canton and Saverton.

Mark McNally of the Mid-America Port Commission told Hare that river issues are jobs issues for the region.

Hare said regional coordination and unity impressed one of his congressional peers. U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., is chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and he visited the Quad Cities in late February to learn about regional priorities. Members of the Tri-State Development Summit met Oberstar and outlined work that is needed on highways, rivers and other issues.

Hare said Oberstar was especially impressed with Missouri voters who approved a higher sales tax to get a four-lane U.S. 36 built.

"Chairman Oberstar is planning what he calls 'the mother of all infrastructure bills' to come out next year," Hare said.