AAPA Remembers 'Tireless' Congressman James Oberstar
Following the recent passing of former Cong. James Oberstar, American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) President and CEO Kurt Nagle described the past chair of the U.S. âIn 2003, AAPA honored Cong. Oberstar with its prestigious âPort Person of the Yearâ award for his many contributions to advancing Americaâs freight transportation system, including authoring or co-authoring six Water Resources Development Acts from 1986 to 2000, and various Coast Guard and Coastal Zone Management reauthorizations and amendments,â said Mr. Nagle. In March 2010, Cong. Oberstar returned to the AAPA stage as a keynote speaker to share his views about the importance of authorizing new surface transportation legislation.
AAPA Sees Just One Bright Spot in President's Fiscal 2015 Budget
The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), on behalf of its United States member seaports, expresses both encouragement and disappointment over the funding levels and programmatic changes in federal port-related programs proposed in the Presidentâs FY 2015 budget. While the Presidentâs budget proposal included funding for a new National Infrastructure Investment program, it also decreases funding for the Corps of Engineersâ modernization and maintenance programs for seaports and eliminates the Environmental Protection Agencyâs (EPA) Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grant program.
AAPA Judge the FY 2014 Budget a Support 'Potpouri'
The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) consider the FY 2014 Administration Budget contains mixed blessings for the industry. With the release today of President Obamaâs fiscal 2014 budget, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA)ârepresenting seaports in the United States and throughout the Americasâstated there are both positive and concerning aspects of the budget pertaining to ports and the efficient and secure movement of freight. In regard to modernizing and maintaining Americaâs port navigation infrastructure, AAPA commends the Administrationâs budget request for being $42 million higher than last yearâs $848 million request for the coastal navigation portion of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineersâ Civil Works Program.
AAPA Lauds Committment to Fix HMT Inequity
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.