COVID-19 CONTINUES TO IMPACTS CRUISE
The Port of Seattle Alaskan cruise season had
has begun to recover from COVID-19
Home Port Cruise Calls
• 2021: 82
• 2020: 0
• 2019: 211
Annual Cruise Passengers
• 2021: 229,060
• 2020: 0
• 2019: 1,210,722
I. INVESTING IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND INFRASTRUCTURE
a. Leverage IIJA Dollars: We will work closely with
federal partners to invest infrastructure grant dollars
in key Port and regional projects that increase freight
mobility, facilitate more ecient operations and/or
reduce environmental and community impacts.
b. Continue Existing Infrastructure Programs: We
support full funding for a strengthened national
multimodal freight strategy and related grant
programs, including continued authorization and
funding for the RAISE, INFRA and PIDP discretionary
grant programs. In addition, we support establishing
a sustainable funding source for freight infrastructure.
Finally, we support federal funding to restore capacity
of the West Seattle Bridge for both cargo and
commuters.
c. Implement Harbor Maintenance Tax Reform: We will
work closely with our federal partners to translate the
passage of this long-sought legislation into actionable
regulations. We also support full appropriations for the
“donor port” HMT rebate program.
d. Fund the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks and Channel
Deepening: We support funding for continued
federal operation and maintenance of the locks, as
well as additional funding for priority, non-routine
maintenance. In addition, we support design and
construction phases of projects to deepen the federal
channels serving the Seattle and Tacoma Harbors.
e. Support Key Funding Needs: We will monitor
additional discussions regarding supplemental federal
relief for businesses impacted by the pandemic; in
particular, we support additional federal support for
the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to assist local
restaurants impacted by reduced dining and travel
because of the Omicron variant.
f. Support an Ecient and Sustainable Fishing
Industry: Support key federal priorities for the North
Pacic eet, ranging from economic support for shing
eet modernization to key environmental sustainability
initiatives that address the impacts of climate change
on the shing industry.
www.portseattle.org
2022 MARITIME FEDERAL PRIORITIES
As the region and the world continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Port of Seattle is committed to creating a
safe and healthy travel and trade experience, and to serving as a key contributor to regional and statewide economic recovery.
We are focused on developing more modern, high-tech facilities that will facilitate maritime activities; better connecting the
Puget Sound region to the world; maximizing the environmental sustainability of our operations; and ensuring that our local
communities and residents thrive. The federal government can help us achieve this vision by:
Agenda Item 11a_attach2
Meeting Date: January 10, 2023
II. FACILITATING A RETURN TO TRAVEL AND TRADE
a. Adjust to Changing Travel Protocols: We will monitor
changes to current national and international guidance
regarding protocols to protect the health of passengers
and employees while simultaneously restoring traveler
condence in a return to cruise travel.
b. Improve Trade Competitiveness: We will advocate for
productive engagement and negotiations that ensure
a fair and level playing eld for mutually benecial
trade; ensure that enforcement actions such as taris
and quotas are a measure of last resort and, when
necessary, be carefully and narrowly targeted to address
the problem and minimize the unintended impacts on
American producers and consumers. In addition, we will
advocate for continued federal engagement in solutions
to help alleviate supply chain congestion, including
funding for supply chain resilience and congestion
reduction programs.
c. Partner with Federal Agencies: We support adequate
federal stang levels to ensure ecient movement of
cargo through the Puget Sound gateway and facilitation
of cruise passengers. If necessary, we will advocate
for federal funding to supplement lost user fees,
and to ensure that the federal government resumes
responsibility for funding CBP services, equipment and
facility development.
d. Monitor the Jones Act and the Passenger Vessel
Services Act: We support the Jones Act’s crucial role
in keeping the U.S. domestic maritime industry viable.
In addition, we will monitor proposed changes to the
Passenger Vessel Services Act that would impact the
Port’s Alaska cruise business.
III. IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
a. Fight Climate Change We support comprehensive
proposals for sector-specic and economy-wide solutions
to address the climate crisis with legislation to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful toxic
pollutants while providing exibility to respond to
changing market conditions and technological advances.
b. Oppose Pebble Mine at Bristol Bay and Oshore
Drilling: We oppose mining activity and other
development proposals in the Bristol Bay watershed that
put Bristol Bay sheries at risk. We oppose oshore oil
and gas drilling in both state and federal waters o the
coastline of Washington state.
c. Restore Puget Sound: We will advocate for increased
federal resources and federal agency involvement for
Puget Sound restoration and Southern Resident Killer
Whales recovery
d. Fund Maritime Decarbonization, Emissions
Reductions, and Renewable Energy: We support
authorization and full funding for the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency Diesel Emissions Reduction Act
program, as well as federal programs and funding that
support electrication, alternative fuel use, and other
emissions reductions strategies at ports. We will engage
with key federal stakeholders to eectively advocate for
progress at the International Maritime Organization on
maritime decarbonization policies, and we will support
eorts and funding that advance the oshore wind
industry, particularly in ways that create opportunities
for the Pacic Northwest to become a leader in
manufacturing, assembly, deployment and maintenance.
e. Support Ecient and Consistent Permitting Processes:
We support increased regulatory sta funding for the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA Fisheries and the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service to reduce permit backlogs. In
particular, we will work to ensure sucient resources and
stang for US Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District to
review and approve mitigation banking applications in an
ecient and timely manner. Finally, we oppose changes
to the process for permitting projects that jeopardize
ports’ ability to fulll their economic, environmental and
social missions.
IV. ADDRESSING COMMUNITY IMPACT
a. Support Immigration Reform: 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, particularly related to the
arrival and resettlement of Afghan refugees.
b. Support Economic Development, Tourism, Small
Business Recovery and Workforce Development: We
support additional federal funding for key priorities
within the Port’s economic development, workforce
development, and tourism promotion programs,
including realigning federal funding, programs and
policies to support rebuilding the U.S. small business
sector, reviving entrepreneurship, closing the racial
wealth gap and providing worker training, worker
advancement and increased earning opportunities for
King County residents employed at Port facilities.
c. Address Racial Equity: We will advocate for
comprehensive federal policing reforms that further the
goals of the Port Commission’s Task Force on Policing and
Civil Rights. In addition, we support federal legislation on
biometric technology that ensures protections for privacy,
equity and civil liberties.
d. Fight Human Tracking: We will partner with federal
agencies to improve human tracking prevention and
intervention eorts.
02/2022
For more information on the Port of Seattle’s
federal legislative agenda, contact:
Eric Schinfeld, Port of Seattle
Senior Manager Federal & Int’l Gov’t Relations (206) 787-5031 |
Schinfeld.E@portseattle.org
