PRIORITY AGENDA ITEMS
HARBOR MAINTENANCE TAX (HMT) REFORM
Support reform of the HMT to ensure U.S. tax policy
does not disadvantage U.S. ports and to provide
greater equity for HMT donor ports through expanded
use of Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund revenues. Seek
$50 million appropriation for the “donor port” HMT
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 HMT.
TERMINAL 5 MODERNIZATION PROJECT
Support federal funding for the Terminal 5
Modernization Project to meet changing container
industry requirements, ensure the long-term
competitiveness of the gateway and meet our
environmental and community goals.
FISHING FLEET MODERNIZATION
Advocate for reforms to NOAA’s Fisheries Finance
Program (FFP) that would remove prohibitions on
loans and loan guarantees for the construction
and reconstruction of shing vessels and that
would include safeguards that prevent overshing,
including limitations on the use of replaced vessels in
international sheries. Support increasing the FFP loan
authority, which is presently $100 million annually;
support other policies and programs that improve
access to nancing in order to facilitate modernization
of the North Pacic eet.
SEATTLE AND TACOMA HARBOR DEEPENING
Secure appropriation for design and construction to
deepen the federal channels serving T-18, T-30, and T-5
in Seattle. Secure funding for the feasibility study on
deepening channels in Tacoma Harbor.
NATIONAL FREIGHT POLICY AND FUNDING
Support implementation and increased federal funding
for a strengthened national multimodal freight strategy
and related grant programs, including continued
authorization and funding for the TIGER/BUILD
discretionary grant program. Support establishing a
sustainable funding source for freight infrastructure
and ensure user fee proposals 1) do not hurt the
competitiveness of the Northwest trade corridor relative
to others in North America; 2) are mode neutral; and 3)
funds should spent on improvements that benet users
who pay the fees and not diverted to other uses.
SAFE AND EFFICIENT CARGO SCREENING
Support adequate Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
stang levels to ensure ecient movement of cargo
through the Puget Sound gateway. The port seeks
increased federal funding for CBP stang at maritime
ports of entry and reforms to expedite the hiring of
new CBP ocers. Pursue eorts to ensure the federal
government resumes responsibility for funding CBP
services, equipment and facility development.
TRADE POLICY ADVANCEMENT
Support policies that level playing elds for
international commerce while protecting workers and
the environment. The port believes taris should be a
measure of last resort and, when necessary, be carefully
and narrowly targeted to minimize impacts on American
producers and consumers. Tari collection revenues
should be prioritized toward trade promotion, freight
infrastructure, and programs that lessen retaliatory tari
losses by U.S. exporters.
HIRAM M. CHITTENDEN LOCKS FUNDING
Support funding for continued federal operation and
maintenance of the locks, as well as additional funding
for priority, non-routine maintenance.
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ADDITIONAL PRIORITY ISSUE AREAS
PUGET SOUND RESTORATION
Support increased federal resources for Puget Sound
and Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) restoration,
including funding to support habitat restoration,
to manage predation of Chinook and other species
critical to SRKW recovery, to help cleanup legacy
sources of contaminants that aect SRKW, and to
manage stormwater runo. Support appropriations
for the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration
Project, the National Estuary Program, the Puget Sound
Geographic Program and the Pacic Coastal Salmon
Recovery Fund.
WELCOMING AND COMPETITIVE IMMIGRATION
POLICIES
We will be a leading voice on immigration policies that
ensure the port, its partners and its customers have the
workforce to succeed in the global economy, and that
immigrants and refugees are fully welcomed into the
opportunities that our region’s economy provides.
DIESEL EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS, DERA, AND
ALTERNATIVE FUELS
Support authorization and full funding for the EPA
Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program,
which provides funding for emissions reduction
programs. Advocate for federal programs that support
electrication and alternative fuel use at ports.
OIL TRAIN SAFETY
Support eorts to increase oil train safety standards
and to provide resources to communities to address
hazardous fuel incidents.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION
Partner with federal agencies to improve human
tracking prevention and intervention eorts.
JONES ACT
Support the Jones Act and its crucial role in providing the
institutional framework that helps keep the U.S. domestic
maritime industry viable. Maintain limited exibility to
grant waivers from Jones Act regulations in extraordinary
cases when domestic shipping capacity is insucient to
respond to a given need and when Puget Sound domestic
maritime stakeholders validate that a waiver is necessary
to support the vitality of their industry.
PEBBLE MINE AT BRISTOL BAY
The EPA has determined the proposed Pebble Mine
at Bristol Bay would jeopardize one of the world’s last
wild salmon nurseries, a nding the shing industry has
endorsed. The Port of Seattle opposes mining activity
and other development proposals in the Bristol Bay
watershed that put Bristol Bay sheries at risk.
OFFSHORE DRILLING
Oshore drilling threatens our state’s shing and tourism
industries and puts wildlife habitat at risk. The Port of
Seattle opposes oshore oil and gas drilling in both state
and federal waters o the coastline of Washington state.
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STAY CONNECTED WITH YOUR PORT
For more information on the Port of Seattle’s
federal legislative agenda, contact:
Ryan McFarland
Port of Seattle
Federal Government Relations Manager
(206) 787-3014 |
McFarland.R@portseattle.org
