News Release
FOR RELEASE - January 9, 2018
Contact: Aaron Ellis, Public Affairs Director, aellis@aapa-ports.org
(703) 684-5700
American Association of Port Authorities
Phone: (202) 792-4033
www.aapa-ports.org
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Speaking on behalf of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) – the collective and unified voice of America’s seaports – Port of Cleveland President and CEO William Friedman on Jan. 10 will testify before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) in a hearing titled America’s Water Infrastructure Needs and Challenges. Mr. Friedman’s testimony, which will focus on issues related to navigation infrastructure maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement, is to help committee members better understand and appreciate some of the critical infrastructure issues faced by America’s public ports.
“AAPA is looking forward with great anticipation to a focus on America’s infrastructure investment needs by the Trump Administration and Congress in 2018. Our testimony tomorrow will kick-off the new year with infrastructure as a priority, including waterside infrastructure that needs to be addressed in the next WRDA (Water Resources Development Act) legislation,” said AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle. “Seaport cargo activity accounts for 26 percent of U.S. GDP, over 23 million American jobs, and generates over $320 billion annually in federal, state and local tax revenues. To ensure these jobs, tax revenues and freight volumes continue to grow and support the American economy, AAPA has worked with its member ports to identify $66 billion in federal port-related infrastructure investments over the next 10 years, on both the waterside and the landside.”
In addition to providing examples of waterside infrastructure needs, Mr. Friedman will offer AAPA’s recommendations for water resources legislation to enhance the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers navigation program. Also testifying on the same panel will be representatives for the Restore the Mississippi Delta Coalition, the National Association of Counties, the Congressional Research Service and the Muskogee City-County Port Authority in Oklahoma.
As AAPA’s U.S. Delegation chairman-elect, Mr. Friedman will discuss the value to the nation’s economic future of constructing and maintaining 21st century infrastructure, stressing that port-related infrastructure must be part of any broad infrastructure investment legislation the committee develops. He will also share three key AAPA recommendations for inclusion in the next WRDA bill. They are: 1) that future Harbor Maintenance Tax revenues go directly to the Corps of Engineers rather than into the U.S. General Fund; 2) that Congress authorize and construct navigation project improvements recommended in the Corps’ Chief of Engineer’s reports, and; 3) that additional streamlining be implemented on the Corps’ study process for navigation channel improvements.
“Ports serve as economic engines and vital freight gateways to the global marketplace for American farmers, manufacturers and consumers, and serve as critical infrastructure for the U.S. military in any deployment overseas,” said AAPA’s Mr. Nagle. “Our testimony before the Senate EPW Committee is a way to draw further attention to the value that ports provide and to stress that efficient waterside and landside connections to ports must be a top priority in any broad federal infrastructure package that we’re optimistic will be advanced this year.”
Founded in 1912, AAPA today represents 140 of the leading seaport authorities in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean and more than 250 sustaining and associate members, firms and individuals with an interest in seaports. According to IHS Inc. - World Trade Service, combined international sea trade moving through Western Hemisphere ports in 2015 totaled 3.45 billion metric tons in volume and US$3.36 trillion in value. Of that total, ports in Central and South America handled 1.69 billion metric tons of cargo valued at US$1.15 trillion, while North American ports handled 1.76 billion metric tons of goods, valued at US$2.21 trillion. To meet the growing demand for trade, the AAPA and its members are committed to keeping seaports navigable, secure and sustainable. For more information, visit www.aapa-ports.org. On Twitter: http://twitter.com/AAPA_Seaports
