News Release
FOR RELEASE - December 12, 2024
Contact: Shawn Balcomb, press@aapa-ports.org

American Association of Port Authorities
Phone: (202) 792-4033
www.aapa-ports.org

AAPA Supports the FY25 MARAD Bill with Permitting Reform Wins

Washington, D.C. — The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) is proud to support the Fiscal Year 2025 Maritime Administration (MARAD) Reauthorization measures included in the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA passed in the House today and is expected to pass in the Senate and be signed by the President. The legislation includes AAPA-authored reform measures from the Permitting Optimization for Responsible Transportation (PORT) Act. The PORT Act was introduced in the House by Reps. Mary Peltola (D-AK) and David Rouzer (R-NC) and was endorsed by AAPA.

“America’s ports are thrilled that the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act has passed the U.S. House because it includes provisions from the PORT Act, our bipartisan permitting reform legislation,” stated Cary S. Davis, AAPA President and CEO. “This legislation, a major victory for the port industry and the nation at large, will speed up port infrastructure grants by giving MARAD the same efficiencies other DOT modal agencies enjoy. We look forward to building on the bipartisan collaboration and consensus of these permitting reforms to continue revitalizing the critical infrastructure of a growing and vibrant economy like ours.”

The NDAA includes several key policies that will expedite grant administration for critical port projects:

• MARAD will be able to use categorical exclusions (CEs) previously only available to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Port projects with highway, rail, and transit components will have the same efficiencies as similar projects whose awards came from these other Department of Transportation (DOT) departments. MARAD is also required to conduct a survey of past CEs granted to port projects and issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to establish new CEs;
• If MARAD changes the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grants (other than editing the amount of funding available), the application deadline must be extended by the number of days between the introduction of the NOFO and the announcement of changes;
• If inflation increases the cost of components requiring the port to adjust the project budget during a port’s permitting process for PIDP projects, MARAD is instructed to approve the adjusted project budget efficiently;

MARAD must submit a report to Congress on the average time to complete grant obligation for PIDP projects and any staffing shortages that affect grant timelines.
 
The bill also authorizes PIDP for $500 million for FY25, the same funding level the program was authorized for in FY24. Congress must still appropriate PIDP funds in separate legislation.
 
AAPA recognizes and commends the hard work and perseverance of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure for negotiating this key legislation. In particular, we thank PORT Act sponsors Reps. Peltola and Rouzer, Committee Chairs, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), and Ranking Members, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA).
 
Our organization looks forward to remaining focused on our work with Congress to provide robust levels of funding for the next generation of cargo needs and further expedite permitting for those projects. We also look forward to working closely with MARAD to implement these key policies from the FY25 NDAA.

About AAPA:

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) is the unified voice of port leaders and maritime industry partners across the Western Hemisphere who serve a vital role in job-creation, international competitiveness, and economic prosperity. Connecting small business owners, retailers, and manufacturers to the global marketplace, AAPA member organizations advocate for national policies and infrastructure investments in support of a resilient global supply chain and a positive impact on the way people live, work, travel, and engage in commerce.