The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) is concerned about the US Senate’s approval of FY2020 appropriations bill which will cut about $200 million of funding from the Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program, which provides port infrastructure projects through a competitive application process.
Specifically, under the possibility that the Senate’s appropriation mark is maintained, this will result to a $90 million cut in 2020; Moreover, the bill also states that deep-draft coastal ports and shallow-draft inland waterways ports must share the funds, in comparison to the FY2019 round which was restricted to coastal seaports with at least 20 feet of water depth.
For FY2020, the Association calls that the funding program remains at a minimum level of $300 million for deep-draft coastal ports only.
Although the House of Representatives has approved $225 million for the program in its version of the FY2020 appropriations bill, AAPA says that it will fight to secure a higher funding level for the program in the final conference negotiations.
Chris Connor, AAPA’s president and CEO commented
It’s critical that the U.S. invest in its port infrastructure to address growing trade, which is the lifeblood of our economy. MARAD’s Port Infrastructure Development Program is the first and only federal grant program dedicated to our nation’s ports, and direct investment into port-related infrastructure is a top AAPA priority.
Overall, MARAD’s Port Infrastructure Development Program was launched last year with a first round of funding of $290 million, made possible in part by the support of Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL).
