Transportation Legislation

AAPA Lauds Committment to Fix HMT Inequity

In a May 23 guest editorial on Politico.com, titled How to Fix American Transportation, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) called on his Congressional colleagues to "...act now to craft legislation that can help create long-term jobs, reduce the massive federal bureaucracy, streamline project delivery and provide flexibility to states so they can address their infrastructure needs."  He specifically addressed the federal harbor maintenance tax issue by stating "...despite growing maritime infrastructure needs, these funds are not being used for their intended purpose of maintaining our ports." Chairman Mica's vision for reauthorizing the nation's surface transportation legislation goes beyond the traditional "highway bill" approach and is expected to address road, rail, transit and maritime for a comprehensive solution to many of the transportation problems the nation faces. The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) has urged the committee to include a maritime title in the transportation bill to address the harbor maintenance tax problem and navigation project development inefficiencies. In meetings this year with Chairman Mica, AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle stressed the need for full use of the tax to meet dredging needs nationwide and called for a solution to ensure that the annual revenue collected would be fully used for maintaining the nation's ports and harbors at

Senate O.K.s U.S. Waterways Improvement Bill

The U.S. Senate passed legislation to improve transportation on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers for Midwestern farmers shipping bulk commodities. The legislation provided $2 million for the initial phase of the Upper Mississippi and Illinois waterway system navigation modernization project. The project will redesign and expand seven locks -- five on the Mississippi and two on the Illinois -- that currently delay shipments on the river because the locks are too small to handle

Maritime Security Legislation Passed

Public port authorities commend Congress for passing S. 1214, the “Maritime Transportation Security Act,” which sets out a framework on how to protect America from terrorism threats in the marine environment. "We commend Congressional leaders from both parties for making passage of Federal Maritime Transportation Security legislation a priority in the lame duck session. Chairman Hollings (D-SC), Senator McCain (R-AZ), Senator Graham (D-FL), Senator Breaux

EC Seeks to Establish Own Transportation Accident Review Panel

The EC intends to set up an Independent Group of Experts to advise the EC on a strategy for dealing with accidents in the transport sector. According to a press statement issued by the EC, the Group would conduct independent technical investigations geared toward revealing the causes of accidents and would be modeled on existing legislation regarding accidents in air transport.

Senator Collins Won't Support New Port Security Measure

According to reports, proposed legislation that would require mandatory screening of all maritime cargo is being called overkill by some leaders. Senator Collins, a ranking member of the Homeleand Security Committee, says the proposed legislation goes too far and would bog down waterfront commerce. Legislation now being proposed in congress would require all cargo moving through our ports to be scanned for dangerous materials.

CMK’S Furman Authors Security Pamphlet

Richard L. Furman, Esq., member of Carroll McNulty & Kull LLC (CMK) of New York, has authored “Cargo Transportation Security: Legislation and Regulation Through 2009,” a pamphlet published by Matthew Bender.   The terror attacks on September 11, 2001, made clear the need for comprehensive and integrated cargo and transportation security laws and regulations. Furman’s pamphlet discusses the principal legislation and regulations currently in effect, directed at cargo

Senate and House Appoint Maritime Conferees

The Senate and House recently appointed conferees to the pending conference on maritime security legislation. The conferees will work through the many differences between the Port and Maritime Security Act of 2001 (S. 1214, as passed by the Senate on December 20, 2001), and the Maritime Transportation Antiterrorism Act of 2002 (S. 1214, as amended and passed by the House on June 4). Also expected to be considered in the conference is Senator John Breaux's (D-LA) Ship

Canada Proposal Target Dangerous Goods Transport

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today tabled amendments to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992 in the House of Commons. The amendments would enhance security and safety in the transport of dangerous goods. "Our government is committed to ensuring public safety and security when dangerous goods are imported, handled or transported in Canada," said Minister Cannon

AAPA Lauds Focus of Senate Transportation Proposal

Senate EPW’s 2-year reauthorization proposal includes much of AAPA’s platform. The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) supports a number of the provisions included in legislation marked up today by the U.S. Senate’s Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee. S.1813—Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century or MAP-21— would fund highway programs at $85.3 billion over two years, contains no project earmarks

AAPA: MAP-21 Passage is Forward Progress

America’s Ports, Freight System Recognized in MAP-21 Surface Transportation Bill Reauthorization.   With congressional passage today of MAP-21 (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century), the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) says elements in the two-year, $105 billion surface transportation reauthorization bill elevate the priority of freight movement in a way that constitutes major progress in recognizing the value of America’s seaports and freight