US TIGER (Transportation Infrastructure Generating Economic Recovery) grants will drop to US$500 million compared with fiscal 2014's $600 million mark, but funding is still higher than the $100 million Congress wanted to allow.
This was one of the notations made by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) in reviewing the proposed $1.01 trillion Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015 recently passed by Congress.
The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) also noted that there were big increases in the bill for the US Army Corps of Engineers' Harbour Maintenance Tax-funded operations and maintenance activities and construction budgets, and for the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grants.
The AAPA, representing 80 US public port authorities, said it had lobbied for the increase in EPA's DERA grants funding from $20 million to $30 million, and for the 10 per cent increase in funding for the Corps harbour maintenance activities.
The AAPA has campaigned to increase the Harbour Maintenance Tax as outlined in the 2014 Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) until the amount collected matched the amount spent so it meets targets or harbour dredging wherever needed.
The funding bill agreement also provides a 24 per cent increase in the US Army Corps of Engineers fiscal 2015 coastal navigation construction budget over fiscal 2014 (an increase from $155 million to $192 million) in recognition of the need to modernize and expand America's deep-draft navigation channels.
"We're pleased Congress plans to increase funding above the $915 million requested by the Administration," said AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle.
Mr Nagle noted that the Congressional appropriations bill will provide $1.1 billion in funding in fiscal 2015, representing a 10 per cent increase over the "landmark $1 billion" appropriated last year.
AAPA estimates that $20 million should go for expanded uses at donor ports this year, as authorised under WRRDA.
"The association is looking ahead to President Barrack Obama's fiscal 2016 budget request and for Congress to hit the target that was established in WRRDA, which would provide 69 per cent of the $1.9 billion estimated to be collected in 2015 Harbour Maintenance Tax revenues," he said.
"The funding provided to port-related infrastructure programmes in this 'Cromnibus' is recognition that lawmakers appreciate that seaports, the connections with them and the trade flowing through them, are vital to creating and sustaining jobs, economic growth and enhancing US international competitiveness."
WORLD SHIPPING
15 December 2014 - 23:03
TIGER grants cut, but funding floods in for dredging, EPA diesel mitigation
US TIGER (Transportation Infrastructure Generating Economic Recovery) grants will drop to US$500 million compared with fiscal 2014's $600 million mark, but funding is still higher than the $100 million Congress wanted to allow.
WORLD SHIPPING
15 December 2014 - 23:03
TIGER grants cut, but funding floods in for dredging, EPA diesel mitigation
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