Infrastructure Subcommittee News

An Inland River Transportation Caucus could help inland river transportation interests that are often misunderstood and greatly undervalued.For anyone doing business on the inland river transportation system, the goal is to keep the rivers open for business, the barges moving and the landside facilities efficient in order to keep America’s supply chain strong.To accomplish this, it takes the federal agencies that are charged with operating and maintaining inland rivers to have the support of congress, the funding congress allocates and legislation passed by congress.

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy on Friday praised the House of Representatives for passing a Coast Guard reauthorization bill that includes policies to improve the safety of amphibious vessels known as DUKW boats and holds the Coast Guard accountable to NTSB safety recommendations.DUKW boats, also known as duck boats, were designed and built in the 1940s for military use during World War II; some were later converted for commercial service. They are unique vessels with special challenges that must be addressed to ensure passenger safety.

It’s a common story in the U.S. shipbuilding industry today. A piece of equipment that used to be available for delivery on short notice—maybe in one or two weeks—now must be ordered months or more in advance, and it costs double. Add to this rising steel prices and the labor issues that have pervaded nearly all industrial sectors since the early days of the pandemic, and it’s clear that business is far from usual for American shipyards.Bollinger Shipyards president and CEO, Ben Bordelon…

On February 8, the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, held a second hearing on a 2022 Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) bill. This hearing was a chance for six project sponsors to impress upon legislators why their projects deserved to be on Congress’ final funding list. These were not random projects. Rather, each sponsor spoke on behalf of one of the projects presented in the January 2022 “Chief’s Reports…

Good maritime training provides much more than the certifications, licenses and documentation needed to qualify for the job. It goes beyond preparing crews to carry out onboard functions safely and efficiently day in and day out. Well-trained mariners have the skills and knowledge to handle almost anything thrown their way – even when confronting the unexpected. But what happens when the unexpected is a pandemic?COVID-19’s effects on industries across the world have been widespread and diverse, forcing businesses to adjust to an entirely new set of global circumstances.

Bipartisan Congressional Leaders Highlight Importance of Jones Act, Employing 650,000 Americans incl. Veterans, for National & Economic Security. Following the signing of an Executive Order by President Donald J. Trump to create an easier pathway for veterans to transition into maritime careers in the U.S. Merchant Marine, congressional and maritime leaders convened for two hearings exploring the state of the domestic maritime industry and the role of the Jones Act. These hearings…

Today, the American Waterways Operators testified before two congressional committees on the state of the American maritime industry.Tom Allegretti, President & CEO, testified before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee while across the Capitol, Jennifer Carpenter, Executive Vice President & COO, appeared before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. In written testimonies submitted to the Committee and Subcommittee, both Mr. Allegretti and Mrs.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing Wednesday on “The State of the U.S. Flag Maritime Industry” during which congressional and maritime leaders stressed the importance of the Jones Act. RADM Mark H. Mr. Mr. The Committee and those testifying expressed bipartisan support for the Jones Act and enforcement of the law. “In order for us to maintain the way of life as we know it as a nation that is secure and is able to project power, be it Navy power or commercial power, the Jones Act is intrinsic to that. Congressman Weber likewise noted the need to maintain a strong domestic maritime industry and the importance of the Jones Act.

Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) today commended the work of Congress to pass the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, of which the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA 2016) is included, by a vote of 78 to 21 during the lame duck session. WIIN/WRDA authorizes Army Corps of Engineers' work on locks and dams, dredging and other water resources projects. WCI applauded the efforts of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, led by Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) and Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR), along with House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Chairman Bob Gibbs (R-OH) and Ranking Member Grace Napolitano (D-CA).

Washington-based Tracy R. Zea advocates for Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) goals for authorizations and appropriations which support a modern, efficient, and reliable inland waterways transportation system. Zea also works to enhance WCI’s stakeholder relationship with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers while additionally tracking implementation of WRRDA legislation and ensuring that WCI’s views are reflected in the outcomes. Before joining WCI, Zea served on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) for five years.

Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, Calif.), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, spoke at the Bay Planning Coalition’s 2015 Decision Makers Conference. Garamendi's speech focused on America's pivotal opportunity to create thousands of American jobs by revitalizing America's shipbuilding industry. "We're not building big ships in the United States except for the U.S. Navy. These are strategic national assets," Congressman Garamendi said.

Port authority CEOs and senior staff from throughout the Western Hemisphere, along with maritime industry leaders, influencers and policymakers are expected to converge on Washington, D.C., April 20-21, to attend the 2015 Spring Conference of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) – the collective and recognized voice of seaports in the Americas. The annual event will feature discussions on the energy industry, cybersecurity, port cooperation, economic impacts, infrastructure funding…

Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA), the Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, introduced the bipartisan National Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Resilience and Security Act of 2015, H.R. 1678. H.R. 1678 would require the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Secretary of Transportation, to establish and sustain a reliable, land…

U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-LA) and Mexico’s general coordinator of ports and merchant marine, Guillermo Ruiz de Teresa, have been jointly selected to receive the American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) 2015 “Port Person of the Year” award. The AAPA selected Sen. Vitter and General Coordinator Ruiz de Teresa for their work toward reforming their country’s water resources development legislation, including boosting federal funding to maintain and improve their nation’s ports and harbors, as well as their efforts in creating jobs and improving economic competitiveness in the U.S. and Mexico. “Both Sen. Vitter and General Coordinator…

Legislation promotes revitalization of maritime industry through export of liquefied natural gas on U.S. Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) and Ranking Member John Garamendi (D-Calif.) held a hearing Wednesday that brought together the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation to address “The status of the Merchant Marine”. The hearing focused attention on H.R. 5270, the bipartisan Growing American Shipping Act or GAS Act, which would promote the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) on U.S.-flag vessels. Witnesses at the hearing voiced support for the legislation and efforts to increase the use of U.S. flag ships in the foreign trade. Ranking Member Garamendi said, “The U.S.

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) says it praises the leadership of the U.S. Senate’s Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee for releasing the six-year MAP-21 Reauthorization Act (S. 2322) that puts a high priority on freight movement investments. “We commend Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA and Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee), Senator David Vitter (R-LA and Ranking Member of the Committee), Senator Tom Carper (D-DE and Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee) and Senator John Barrasso (R-WY and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee) for introducing the MAP-21 Reauthorization Act…

A new well-intentioned maritime fuel regulation from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is poised to crowd roads and increase onshore air pollution, maintain shipping industry leaders Rod Jones and Bill Terry, President and CEO of the CSL Group and of Eagle Rock Aggregates, respectively. They explain that the rule requires the use of high-cost, ultra-low sulfur fuels in ships operating within the 200 nautical mile (nm) boundary of the North American Emission Control Area (ECA).

Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA), the Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, has introduced H.R. 3475, the Cruise Vessel Consumer Confidence Act of 2013, which authorizes the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to provide oversight and to investigate deceptive practices and unfair competition relating to cruise vessel passenger travel. The Bill also requires the cruise line industry to make disclosures, provide timely information to passengers, provide for the physical needs of passengers, and reimburse passengers that are delayed for more than 24 hours. Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento, CA) is an original cosponsor of the bill.

Last month, I had the opportunity to testify before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation at a hearing that examined maritime regulations. In what must have been a change of pace for Subcommittee members, instead of detailing the regulatory burdens facing the tugboat, towboat and barge industry, I urged them to exercise their oversight responsibility to ensure expeditious publication of long-awaited U.S. Coast Guard regulations regarding towing vessel inspection.

Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, Calif.), the Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, announced his strong concern regarding the critical need to provide reliable and sufficient funding to recapitalize the Coast Guard’s aging fleets of surface ships and aircraft. At this morning’s subcommittee hearing, Coast Guard Readiness: Examining Cutter, Aircraft and Communications Needs, Ranking Member…

WASHINGTON — Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Bob Papp testified before the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security on the Coast Guard’s Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Request, Tuesday. Papp is scheduled to appear before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and the Coast Guard on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. and is also scheduled to testify, along with Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Michael Leavitt, before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Marine Transportation at 10 a.m.

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, adds mechanisms for performance measurements, accelerates project delivery and streamlines the environmental review process.

Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-MO) will receive the Third Annual Waterways Council, Inc. Leadership Service Award on Wednesday, March 31, 2004, at 6 p.m. at the Willard Hotel, Washington, DC. Senator Bond is being honored for his unwavering commitment to the improvement of the ports and commercial waterways system. After serving as the state of Missouri’s Governor for two terms, Senator “Kit” Bond is now in his third term in the Senate. Senator Bond serves as Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee of the Environment & Public Works Committee, which is responsible for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers program to maintain and modernize the locks and dams on America’s inland navigation system.