Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION

AGENDA MEMORANDUM

Item No.

ACTION ITEM

Date of Meeting

January 24, 2017

DATE: December 27, 2016

TO: Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer

FROM: Pearse Edwards, Government Relations Director

Ryan McFarland, Federal Government Relations Manager

Eric Schinfeld, Sr. Manager, Federal & International Government Relations

SUBJECT: Final Adoption of 2017 Federal Legislative Agenda

ACTION REQUESTED

Request Commission approval of the 2017 Federal Legislative Agenda.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

As we look ahead to the 115

United States Congress and the inauguration of a new

administration, Port of Seattle government relations staff has worked with Commissioners,

executive team members, and internal subject-matter experts to develop an agenda to guide

advocacy efforts on the Port’s maritime, aviation, and international trade priorities. In

implementing this agenda, we will leverage the Port’s role as a strategic gateway to Asia and

Alaska to maximize our political influence and achieve the Port’s legislative priorities

DRAFT FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

Priority Agenda Items

Aviation

• Sufficient Federal Funding: Advocate for a long-term FAA Reauthorization bill that

strengthens our region’s airport system by allowing us to invest in today’s needs and the

future; specifically, support robust Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding

necessary to enable Sea-Tac to provide service in a cost competitive manner.

• Federal Funding Flexibility: Provide leadership on the effort to modernize the Passenger

Facility Charge (PFC) user fee – raising the federal cap from $4.50 and giving the Port of

Seattle Commission the ability to both set their own levels based on locally determined

needs and expand the uses of those dollars.

• Efficient and Safe Airport Operations: Work closely with the federal government and

key members of Congress to alleviate passenger wait times by:

o Supporting TSA efforts to authorize additional canine teams for both passenger

and freight issues, and hire and train new Transportation Security Officers

(TSOs), as well as working with them to implement innovative solutions to

address surge capacity.

COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 6b Page 2 of 4

Meeting Date: January 24, 2017

Template revised September 22, 2016.

o Supporting implementation of TSA efforts to expand PreCheck, as well as to

identify additional solutions that maximize security and efficiency.

• Regulatory Compliance: Increase FAA notification to the Port and the community

related to flight path changes; ensure the federal government and key members of

Congress are properly engaged related to flight corridor safety and the appropriate use

of aviation funds for both airport and community noise mitigation investments.

Maritime

• Harbor Maintenance Tax Reform: Continue efforts to reform the HMT to ensure United

States tax policy does not disadvantage United States ports and maritime cargo and to

provide greater equity for HMT donor ports through expanded use of Harbor

Maintenance Trust Fund revenues.

• Donor Port and Rebate Funding: Support a $50 million appropriation in FY17 and FY18

spending bills for the “donor port” and rebate program authorized under Section 2106

of the 2014 Water Resources Reform and Development Act to compensate for the

current structure and impacts of the Harbor Maintenance Tax.

• Fishing Fleet Modernization: Advocate for reforms to NOAA’s Fisheries Finance

Program that would remove prohibitions on loans and loan guarantees for the

construction and reconstruction of fishing vessels and that would include safeguards

that prevent overfishing, including limitations on the use of replaced vessels in

international fisheries; support other policies and programs that improve access to

financing in order to facilitate modernization of the North Pacific fleet.

• Seattle Harbor Deepening: Support an appropriation of $500,000 for the final year of

the feasibility study on deepening the federal channels serving T-18, T-30 and T-5; on

completion of the study and Chief’s Report, advocate for authorization and funding for

design and construction.

• National Freight Policy and Funding: Continue to engage with key partners at the

national level to implement and fund a national multimodal freight strategy and related

grant programs that recognize the significance of U.S. West Coast ports; support

continued authorization and funding for the TIGER Discretionary Grant program; work

with members of the Washington State Congressional Delegation and others to secure

additional federal funding for key Port freight mobility priorities, including for Terminal

5 modernization.

• Safe and Efficient Cargo Screening: Work with the federal government and key

members of Congress for expedited deployment by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) of

radiation portal monitors capable of scanning containers in a more efficient manner for

marine container terminals utilizing straddle carriers; secure adequate CBP staffing

levels to ensure efficient movement of cargo through the Puget Sound gateway.

• Puget Sound Restoration: Support increased federal resources for Puget Sound

restoration, including appropriations for the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem

Restoration Project.

COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 6b Page 3 of 4

Meeting Date: January 24, 2017

Template revised September 22, 2016.

Additional Priority Issues the Port of Seattle is Supporting, Engaging on or Monitoring:

Support or Engage

• REAL ID: Coordinate with federal agencies on advocacy efforts that support action to

bring Washington state into compliance with new rules and regulations; align with Port

efforts at the state level to ensure success of necessary action in Olympia.

• Environmental and Clean Technology Funding and Regulation: Find opportunities to

partner with the federal government & key members of Congress on efforts to improve

the environmental impact of the Port’s maritime and aviation activities, including but

not limited to funding for the port’s emissions reduction efforts and water quality

programs as well as expansion of the Port’s aviation biofuels program.

• Capital Projects Funding & Regulatory Approval: Ensure that the federal government

and key members of Congress are supportive of all aspects of in-progress (NorthStar,

IAF, Baggage Optimization, South Satellite) and future (SAMP) capital projects to

facilitate continued economic development in the Puget Sound region. Identify

opportunities for continuous engagement at key decision points, as well as strong

support for additional federal funding opportunities.

• Trade Liberalization and Expansion Policy Advancement: Engage with local, state and

national partners to advocate for trade policies that open new markets and level playing

fields for Washington employers and others who use the Port as their international

gateway, while creating verifiable, measureable and enforceable standards to protect

workers and the environment.

• Diesel Emissions Reductions and DERA: Support authorization and full funding for the

EPA Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program, which provides funding for

emissions reduction programs.

• Comprehensive Tax Reform: Participate in relevant discussions with key members of

Congress regarding overarching changes to current US tax code as it relates to solutions

that would create revenue to fund infrastructure programs, reduce Port costs and

address the competitive imbalances caused by the Harbor Maintenance Tax.

• Economic & Workforce Development: Work with the federal government and key

members of Congress to identify and secure additional federal funding for key priorities

within the Port’s economic development, tourism development and workforce

development programs; support steps to increase and facilitation tourism into the

United States such as expansion of preclearance and Global Entry as well as

strengthening the Visa Waiver Program.

• Hiram M. Chittenden Locks Funding: Support funding for continued federal operation

and maintenance of the locks, as well as additional funding for priority repairs like the

Stoney Gates valve replacement.

COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 6b Page 4 of 4

Meeting Date: January 24, 2017

Template revised September 22, 2016.

Monitor

• Goods Movement User Fees: Support the concept of establishing a sustainable source

for freight infrastructure and monitor individual user fee proposals to ensure that 1)

fees should not hurt the competitiveness of the Northwest trade corridor relative to

others in North America; 2) fees should be mode neutral; and 3) funds should spent on

improvements that benefit users who pay the fees and not diverted to other uses.

• FAA Air Traffic Control System Governance: Monitor ongoing conversations related to

the management and staffing of the U.S. air traffic control system to ensure increased

predictability and efficiency.

• Visa Reform: Follow efforts to enable targeted professionals and individuals to visit and

work in Washington state by reforming laws in a way that the needs of our economy

and public safety.

• Community Engagement: Respond to federal and local stakeholders where appropriate

to address issues of concern related to noise impacts, environmental impacts and

workforce enforcement issues for the Port and its customers, vendors and contractors.

• Local Government Partnerships: Play a supportive role on key federal priorities of our

local partners that have a Port nexus, such as increasing federal funding for

homelessness & housing affordability, securing federal transportation investments, and

policies that improve the environment and quality of life for our region’s residents.

ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST -

(1) None

PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS

January 10, 2017 – The Commission was briefed on the 2017 Federal Legislative Agenda.

January 10, 2017 – The Commission authorized staff to pursue the 2017 local and regional

policy priorities.

December 13, 2016 – The Commission was briefed on 2017 local and regional policy

priorities.

November 8, 2016 – The Commission authorized staff to pursue legislative priorities during

the 2017 state legislative session.

October 25, 2016 – The Commission was briefed on 2017 state legislative priorities.