Posted:
April 22, 2010
Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) have introduced legislation that would improve harbors and ports across the nation by guaranteeing harbor maintenance funds are used for their intended purpose.
"By compelling Congress to properly fund harbor and port maintenance, our legislation will improve the commercial viability of our harbors and improve the economy as a whole by allowing for greater efficiency for delivery of shipments that impact every level of our economy," Sen. Levin said. "This bill would simply force the government to use funds for their intended purpose, which will lead to the creation of jobs and the securing of our national transportation infrastructure."
The Harbor Maintenance Act of 2010 (S. 3213) would make it much easier for Congressional representatives to block a spending bill that does not use all the funding available for harbor maintenance through the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. The HMTF, funded by a tax levied on cargo moving through deep-draft ports, currently has a balance of more than $5 billion dollars but annual expenditures total less than $800 million, while the nation's ports and harbors continue to suffer from neglect.
The lack of adequate dredging has hit Great Lakes shipping particularly hard, forcing vessels to operate at levels far below their carrying capacities, and decreasing efficiency while increasing costs throughout the supply chain.
The legislation is co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of eight senators. Companion legislation (H.R. 4844) was introduced in the House by Representatives Charles Boustany (R-LA) and Bart Stupak (D-MI).
Sen. Levin, Sen. Stabenow introduce legislation to increase dredging, harbor maintenance
Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) have introduced legislation that would improve harbors and ports across the nation by guaranteeing harbor maintenance funds are used for their intended purpose.
"By compelling Congress to properly fund harbor and port maintenance, our legislation will improve the commercial viability of our harbors and improve the economy as a whole by allowing for greater efficiency for delivery of shipments that impact every level of our economy," Sen. Levin said. "This bill would simply force the government to use funds for their intended purpose, which will lead to the creation of jobs and the securing of our national transportation infrastructure."
The Harbor Maintenance Act of 2010 (S. 3213) would make it much easier for Congressional representatives to block a spending bill that does not use all the funding available for harbor maintenance through the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. The HMTF, funded by a tax levied on cargo moving through deep-draft ports, currently has a balance of more than $5 billion dollars but annual expenditures total less than $800 million, while the nation's ports and harbors continue to suffer from neglect.
The lack of adequate dredging has hit Great Lakes shipping particularly hard, forcing vessels to operate at levels far below their carrying capacities, and decreasing efficiency while increasing costs throughout the supply chain.
The legislation is co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of eight senators. Companion legislation (H.R. 4844) was introduced in the House by Representatives Charles Boustany (R-LA) and Bart Stupak (D-MI).