U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Sam Graves (R-MO), and Salud Carbajal (D-CA) introduced bipartisan legislation Friday to increase the resiliency of ports across the country and increase funding for inland ports.
The Resilient Ports Act (H.R. 3033) would create funding eligibility within the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) for port infrastructure projects that reduce ports’ carbon footprints, increases the set aside for inland river and small ports from 18 percent to 25 percent, adds additional selection considerations for port infrastructure projects that address resiliency, outlines resilience projects as those anticipating, adapting to and recovering from disruptions to port infrastructures, and makes technical corrections within PIDP to clarify inland ports mean inland river ports.
“Like so much of our nation’s infrastructure, our ports are years, even decades behind the times, which affects our global competitiveness in the maritime sector. This bipartisan legislation—which will help reduce carbon pollution and ensure our ports are resilient to events related to climate change—is a key part of the solution,” said DeFazio, chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. “As Congress gears up for an active year tackling our country’s crumbling infrastructure, we must ensure port upgrades are part of the conversation, and I thank Chair Carbajal and Ranking Member Graves for joining me in introducing this legislation that makes sure America’s ports aren’t left behind.”
Graves, the ranking member of the transportation committee, agreed.
“Projects that focus on improving the efficiency and resiliency of our transportation network make a lot of sense and can help maximize the value of every available dollar for infrastructure investment,” Graves said. “This bill shows a bipartisan commitment to investing in port infrastructure that not only improves supply chain efficiency but also improves resilience to floods and extreme weather events. With more frequent flooding along the Missouri River, my constituents and the communities in my district understand the importance of building more resilient infrastructure. In addition, the bill sets aside one-quarter of the grant funds for small coastal and inland river ports – the kinds of facilities that are crucial parts of the supply chain but often lack the resources to finance their infrastructure improvements.”