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Patty Murray News

23 Mar 2023

Lower Snake River Issues Cause Concern for Barge Transportation Industry

© PaulMassiePhoto / Adobe Stock

The inland waterways report in September 2022 edition of Marine News focused on issues facing the Lower Snake River Dams (LSRD) in the northwest, in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Walla Walla District.That report referenced issues and concerns confronting regional towboat and barge operators about possible changes to the Columbia Snake River System – perhaps even breaching the four Lower Snake River dams, a move with irreversible consequences.In August, a report by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee was completed and the report’s recommendations were published.

13 Oct 2022

Tidewater to Expand Columbia River Barge Service

Tidewater Barge Lines, Inc will expand its regional barge service on the Columbia River after being awarded grant funding from the U.S. Department Maritime Administration (MARAD).The $4,168,759 from MARAD, combined with nearly $2 million in matching funds from Tidewater, will provide two new low and zero emission cranes that will enable the loading of additional solid waste containers on barges for shipment from southwest Washington to eastern Oregon.“This award will allow Tidewater…

27 Sep 2022

New Bill Aims to Increase US Federal Funding for Public Ferry Service

© sheilaf2002 / Adobe Stock

A new bill recently introduced by Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) aims to increase federal funding for public ferry services in the United States.The “Ferry Service Expansion Act” would boost funding for both the Federal Highway Administration’s formula and the Federal Transit Administration’s competitive grant programs to the levels requested by the Public Ferry Coalition, building upon New Federal Investment in Ferry Service under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.Specifically…

15 Sep 2022

Inland Waterways Report: Columbia-Snake River System

(Photo: Tidewater Transportation and Terminals)

It’s amazing to consider that a commercial vessel in the Pacific Ocean, approaching the mouth of the Columbia River, can continue its eastward journey to finally tie up at the Port of Lewiston, in Lewiston, Idaho, America’s most inland West Coast port, 465 miles from the Pacific Ocean.The Columbia and Snake Rivers form that critical east-west waterway, an economic powerhouse regionally, nationally and internationally. According to the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association (PNWA)…

04 Nov 2018

Port of Everett Becomes First Port to Receive Federal Rail Loan

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau will provide up to a $5.95 million Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan to the Port of Everett in the State of Washington. The Port of Everett is the first Port to make it through the complex loan process.“I’ve been proud to work with the Port of Everett to secure federal investments to ensure the Port continues to meet the demands of the 21st century economy, and I’m thrilled to see the federal government bring even more resources to the table. This investment will help complete vital modernization projects and support an important economic hub in Washington state,” said U.S.

29 Feb 2016

CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin Calls Seattle

CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin (Photo: Northwest Seaport Alliance)

Largest cargo vessel to visit U.S. The largest cargo ship to visit the United States, the CMA CMG Benjamin Franklin, arrived Monday at The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s Terminal 18 in Seattle. The Benjamin Franklin has capacity for 18,000 20-foot equivalent container units (TEUs), more than double the cargo of most container ships calling at Northwest Seaport Alliance terminals. If laid end-to-end, the 18,000 TEUs would stretch from Tacoma to Everett, a distance of about 68 miles.

09 Oct 2015

US Senators Introduce Bill to Limit Offshore Drilling

A group of U.S. Senators on the West Coast have introduced a bill Wednesday aiming to prohibit offshore drilling on the outer continental shelf of California, Oregon and Washington.   First introduced in 2010, the West Coast Ocean Protection Act, would amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to permanently block drilling off the U.S. West Coast, stating that "the Secretary of the Interior shall not issue a lease for the exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas in any area of the outer Continental Shelf off the coast of the State of California, Oregon or Washington."   The legislation was introduced by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).

29 Jun 2015

Multimodal Freight Bill Introduced in US Senate

U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) introduced legislation to establish a multimodal freight investment policy to keep America businesses, farmers and shippers competitive the 21st century global economy. The National Multimodal Freight Policy and Investment Act (S.1680) creates a comprehensive, strategic plan for multimodal freight investment and reduces freight bottlenecks and congestion by investing in the nation’s network of highways, railroads, ports and intermodal facilities. It would also reduce the impact of freight movement on communities and help ensure the vitality of important “last-mile” freight connections. The bill is based, in part, upon the recommendations of the nonpartisan U.S.

17 May 2014

Senators Murray, Cantwell Secure Wins for Ports of Seattle, Tacoma

U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) yesterday announced that a critical provision they authored to reform the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) and significantly benefit the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma was included in the bipartisan, bicameral deal on the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) released in the afternoon. As “donor ports,” the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma currently receive just pennies for each dollar they contribute to the HMTF through collected shipping taxes, while other ports around the country disproportionately receive millions more. The provision included in the WRRDA deal today reforms the HMTF…

03 Jan 2014

U.S. Port Security and the Impact of Sequester & Budget Woes

Coast Guard transportable port security boats attached to Port Security Unit 308 and riverine command boats from Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 2 practice maneuvers together in the Intracoastal Waterway in North Carolina. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Richard Brunson)

This article describes the impact of the “sequester” and budget showdowns on ports and port security, and also gives a preview of the House-Senate Conference on the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). On the one hand, ports and port security have been severely hampered by the ongoing budget battles, as has the rest of the U.S. Government and economy. On the other hand, Congress appears to be on the brink of reauthorizing the Water Resources Development Act for the first time in six years.

17 Sep 2013

Senators Murray, Cantwell Introduce American Port Legislation

Senator Patty Murray (WA)

U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell introduced today The Maritime Goods Movement Act for the 21st Century, new legislation that would support the American trade economy and significantly strengthen American ports. The legislation would replace the outdated Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT), which is designed to fund the operation and maintenance of American ports, but currently incentivizes shippers to bypass American ports and move U.S. bound goods through Canada and Mexico instead.

13 Aug 2013

Murray, Cantwell to Unveil American Ports Legilation

On Thursday, August 15th, at 10:00 AM, U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Port of Seattle CEO Tay Yoshitani, and Port of Tacoma CEO John Wolfe will hold a press conference at the Bell Harbor Conference Center rooftop deck overlooking the Port of Seattle to announce new legislation that will support Washington state’s trade economy and significantly strengthen American ports, including many in the Pacific Northwest. Outdated harbor maintenance taxes divert many American-bound cargos to ports in Canada. The Senate bill is expected to level the playing field for American ports competing for cargo while boosting investments in port infrastructure and maintenance.

10 Nov 2011

WCI: Abandon Obama's User Fee Proposal

(WCI) President and CEO Michael J. Toohey

Capital Development Plan Most Comprehensive Solution for Addressing Waterways’ Infrastructure Funding, Construction Reform Needs. In a letter sent yesterday to Representative Jeb Hensarling and Senator Patty Murray, Co-Chairs of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, Waterways Council Inc. (WCI) President and CEO Michael J. Toohey urged the “Super Committee” to nix the user fee provision in the Inland Waterways Capital Investment Act (IWCIA). The Obama Administration…

01 Sep 2011

10 Years After 9/11, Security Still a Top Priority of U.S. Ports

AAPA Concerned Federal Budget Cuts May Impact Port Security Progress. Port and industry leaders from throughout the Western Hemisphere will pause on Sunday, Sept. 11, as part of the 100th Annual Convention of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) in Seattle (Sept. 11-15), to remember those tragically lost in the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil 10 years ago. Among those lost were 84 industry colleagues from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey who perished at the World Trade Center. In the decade since Sept. 11, 2001, America’s seaports and the federal government have joined forces to make major gains in fortifying and hardening port facilities against intruder attack.

21 May 2010

Senate Democrats Want Inspection of All Rigs

According to a May 20 report from RTTNews, Senate Democrats are urging President Barack Obama to order inspections of all offshore oil rigs. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was joined by Senators Richard Durbin, D-Ill., Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Robert Menendez, D-N.J., in sending a letter to Obama asking him to order the inspections. (Source: RTTNews)

17 Jun 2009

$30m in Homeland Security Funding for Wa.

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that Washington State will receive over $30m in federal Homeland Security Grant funding made possible through the Fiscal Year 2009 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The money will be used to help Washington state communities pay for emergency equipment, strengthen border security, improve their emergency coordination efforts, and prepare for a regional catastrophe. “I worked hard to ensure that Congress maintained its commitment to our local police, firefighters, and emergency managers,” said Senator Patty Murray. “Our state’s first responders face new challenges, as well as familiar existing threats.

21 May 2009

Ultra-Low Wake Ferry Gets Green Light

All American Marine, Inc. and Teknicraft Design, Ltd. have successfully made a proposal to Kitsap Transit to bring a new passenger ferry to Rich Passage. On Tuesday, April 21st, the commissioners of Kitsap Transit unanimously approved $5.3m for the purchase of a 77 ft ultra-low wake Teknicraft catamaran and on May 18th, All American Marine received the signed notice-to-proceed. The high speed passenger catamaran will carry 118 passengers and operate between Bremerton and Seattle, Washington at speeds of 29 to 38 knots.

14 Apr 2009

$30m for Washington State Port Security

April 8, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that Washington state ports will receive $30.3m for port security efforts across the state this year. The funds, which will now begin to be distributed to state ports, will go toward infrastructure security improvements including chemical detectors, cameras, security gates, access controls, and training and exercises. “As we work to stabilize our economy and spur investment in Washington state, it is critically important that our ports remain secure and open for business,” Senator Murray said. The funding for these grants was included in the Fiscal Year 2009 Port Security Grant Program.

09 Mar 2004

Senator Murray Selected as AAPA Port Person of the Year

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) has been selected as Port Person of the Year by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), the organization representing public ports throughout the Western Hemisphere. AAPA’s annual award, honors an individual whose outstanding work or service has made a significant contribution to public port authorities and/or maritime commerce. The award will be presented to Senator Murray on March 23 during AAPA’s annual Spring Conference, held at the Washington, D.C. Park Hyatt Hotel. The Port of Seattle, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the Port of Tacoma nominated Murray for the Port Person of the Year honor, which was ultimately decided by AAPA’s Executive Committee upon review of all nominations.

04 Mar 2004

AAPA to Honor Senator Murray

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) has been selected as Port Person of the Year by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), the organization representing public ports throughout the Western Hemisphere. It is AAPA's most prestigious annual award, honoring an individual whose outstanding work or service has made a significant contribution to public port authorities and/or maritime commerce. The award will be presented to Senator Murray on March 23 at 8:30 a.m. during AAPA's annual Spring Conference, held at the Washington, D.C. Park Hyatt Hotel. The Port of Seattle, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the Port of Tacoma nominated Murray for the Port Person of the Year honor, which was ultimately decided by AAPA's Executive Committee upon review of all nominations.

12 Feb 2004

Senator Murray Blasts Bush's Security Funding

Our nation’s ports are an essential component of our economic infrastructure, and they represent one of our greatest vulnerabilities, but the Administration’s budget will weaken our investment in port security. Last week, the President was at the Port of Charleston to talk about seaport and cargo security. It is one thing to give a speech in front of our Coast Guard assets and quite another to actually provide the men and women of the Coast Guard with the tools they need to do their job. This Administration is flirting with disaster with its lack of sustained and serious attention to port security. We cannot allow any port in this country to become a weak link in the security chain.

05 Mar 2008

Senator Byrd Named Port Person Of The Year

U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) will be honored as the American Association of Port Authorities' (AAPA) "Port Person of the Year" at the port association's annual Washington People's Luncheon on April 1 in Washington, D.C.'s historic Willard Inter-Continental Hotel. AAPA - a trade organization representing the leading public ports in the Western Hemisphere - selected Sen. Byrd to receive its most prestigious annual award based on his strong advocacy in Congress for increasing cargo and facility security at America's seaports. In addition to receiving the "Port Person" award, Sen. Byrd will serve as the luncheon's keynote speaker. During his remarks…

25 Feb 2009

Seattle Shipyard $29m Icebreaker Contract

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that Todd Shipyards, a Seattle-based company, has been awarded a five-year $29m contract to retrofit the United States Coast Guard’s Polar Class icebreaker, Polar Star. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray helped secure $30.3m in the FY2009 Homeland Security Appropriations bill to re-activate the USCGC Polar Star, which is currently in caretaker status. “This contract is a shot in the arm for our maritime industry at a critical time,” said Senator Murray. According to Todd Pacific Shipyards' CEO, Steve Welch, the contract will mean sustaining or creating more than 250 jobs in the Puget Sound region. "This news couldn't have come at a better time," Welch said.