Landrieu Proposes Fix To Harbor Fund
WASHINGTON – United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today introduced the Harbor Maintenance Act of 2011 as an original co-sponsor to correct funding inequities in the operation and the maintenance of U.S. ports and harbors. Of the 149 ports nationwide, six of the top 10 are located along the Gulf Coast. Port of South Louisiana, Port of New Orleans, Port of Lake Charles, Port of Baton Rouge, Port of Plaquemines and the Port of Morgan City rank among the top 100 for total tonnage in the United States.
‘’As gateways to domestic and international trade, Louisiana’s ports and harbors are vital to the country’s global competitiveness and American jobs,” Sen. Landrieu said. “They drive industries and support the delivery of products through the entire economy. Although Louisiana’s port system makes up the largest in the world, the critical federal waterways that serve our ports have not been adequately maintained.”
The Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT) and Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) were established in 1986 to fund operations and maintenance of federal ports and harbors. However, this funding is not being used to address the backlog of necessary maintenance dredging needed to sustain our vital infrastructure.
The HMT is charged against the value of imports and domestic cargo arriving at U.S. ports that have federally maintained harbors and channels and deposited into the HMTF. Today, the HMTF has a balance of approximately $5.7 billion.
Sen. Landrieu continued: “I have been fighting for dredging money for our ports for over a decade. Fixing this trust fund is essential to keeping our ports open for business and our economy strong. Passage of the Harbor Maintenance Act, which would help ensure that annual spending levels are linked to the revenues collected each year through the HMT.”
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers surveys show our harbor channels are getting shallower and narrower. Ignoring the maintenance of harbors and ports impacts regional and national commerce, reduces our economic competitiveness, and increases the risk of vessel groundings, collisions, and pollution incidents. Charging maritime commerce for this tax while failing to provide the service for which it was established is simply unfair.
Similar problems occurred with the Highway Trust Fund and the Airports and Airways Trust Fund, and Congress enacted legislation to more closely tie trust fund expenditures and revenues. The Harbor Maintenance Act of 2011 would establish a similar fix for the HMTF.
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