Posted on May 2, 2019
Congressman Peter DeFazio has introduced legislation which he says would unlock billions in already-collected fees to maintain the nation’s federal ports and harbors.
A release from DeFazio said the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund collects more revenue from shippers than Congress has appropriated to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to maintain harbors. Approximately $9.3 billion in already collected revenue sits idle in the U.S. Treasury not being used for its intended purpose of investing in ports and harbors, according to DeFazio. He said at the same time, some ports and harbors of all sizes struggle to remain competitive in the global shipment of goods, or to remain open to meet the needs of communities that depend on a “vibrant maritime and commercial fishing industry”. DeFazio said while shippers continue to pay into a Trust Fund for congressionally-approved maintenance activities, the federal government has not carried out many of them.
The release said the Full Utilization of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Act would make it easier for Congress to appropriate any funds collected in the Trust Fund for authorized harbor maintenance needs. That would include the existing $9.3 billion balance in the Trust Fund. DeFazio said the bill would enable the expenditure of approximately $34 billion over the next decade which will allow the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge all federal harbors to their constructed widths and depths.
Kristen Meira, Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association said the ports in southwest Oregon are “truly the economic drivers for our economy”. She said fully spending the HMTF will help ensure the continued prosperity of all parts of the Northwest.
This year DeFazio secured dredge funding for Oregon’s ports, including $939,000 for the Port of Reedsport in Douglas County.
The new legislation from DeFazio was introduced on Tuesday.
Source: kqennewsradio.com
