[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 53 (Thursday, April 15, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2378-S2379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LEVIN (for himself, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Vitter, Ms. 
        Stabenow, Mr. Shelby, Ms. Collins, Mr. Brown of Ohio, and Ms. 
        Landrieu):
  S. 3213. A bill to ensure that amounts credited to the Harbor 
Maintenance Trust Fund are used for harbor maintenance; to the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Harbor 
Maintenance Act, a bill with bipartisan and multi-regional support that 
would help ensure that funds deposited into the Harbor Maintenance 
Trust Fund would be used for their intended purposes: to properly 
maintain and operate our Federal harbors and ports.
  The Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, also known as the HMTF, was 
created to collect fees in order to pay for the

[[Page S2379]]

maintenance and operation costs of Federal harbors and ports. While 
nearly \1/4\ of the U.S. gross domestic product flows through these 
harbors, over half of these important ports are not maintained to their 
authorized dimensions. This results in less efficient and more 
polluting transport, as well as an increased risk of vessel groundings 
and collisions. One of the ways to ensure a robust and sustainable 
economic recovery includes strengthening our Nation's infrastructure, 
which includes our navigational infrastructure.
  Every year, hundreds of millions of dollars are collected into the 
HMTF but never spent, even though there are critical navigation needs. 
For example, the Army Corps of Engineers estimates a backlog of about 
15 million cubic yards of dredging needs at commercial federally-
authorized Great Lakes harbors and channels. This dredging backlog has 
resulted in freighters getting stuck in channels, ships having to carry 
reduced loads, and some shipments simply stopping altogether.Dredging 
to proper depths is critical not only for Michigan's economy, but for 
the Nation's economy, as these shipments include commodities that fuel 
our Nation's industries, products for construction, fuel for heating 
and cooling homes and businesses, and agricultural products for export.
  Similar navigational infrastructure needs exist throughout our 
country, and the range of cosponsors from different parts of the 
country demonstrates this bill would help improve the navigational 
infrastructure across the Nation. This bill also has the support of a 
broad coalition called the Realize America's Maritime Promise, which is 
made up of hundreds of port authorities, vessel operators, port 
communities, public and private terminal operators, pilot associations, 
dredging companies, shipbuilders, maritime labor unions, manufacturers, 
bulk cargo owners and shippers, and other companies and associations 
dependent on fully accessible navigation channels.
  Currently, the HMTF has a surplus that exceeds $5 billion. Beginning 
in 2003, funds appropriated for harbor and channel maintenance have 
been significantly below annual HMTF collections. To help ensure these 
backlogs do not continue to grow, this bill would allow any Member of 
Congress to make a point of order against an appropriations bill if the 
total revenue for that fiscal year, as projected in the President's 
annual budget request, is not fully appropriated for its intended 
navigational infrastructure purposes. Similar problems with funding 
backlogs occurred with the Highway Trust Fund and the Airports and 
Airways Trust Fund. Congress responded by enacting legislation to 
address these problems. Congress should do the same for the Harbor 
Maintenance Trust Fund. Our Nation's infrastructure--whether it be 
roadways, airports, or ports and harbors--should be treated the same 
way. Shipping by water is the most efficient means of transporting bulk 
commodities, and we should make sure our Nation's navigational 
infrastructure can effectively handle these shipments, rather than 
allowing these ports and harbors to exist in a state of disrepair.
  A sustainable economic recovery depends on strong infrastructure. 
Passing this bill would help us advance our recovery and improve our 
economic competitiveness. I urge your support.
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