[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 33 (Thursday, February 27, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCING THE ``MARITIME GOODS MOVEMENT ACT OF THE 21ST CENTURY''

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                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 27, 2014

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, Washington State's economy depends on its 
thriving ports. And yet, for too long, funds collected to maintain our 
Nation's waterways have been diverted elsewhere. In spite of urgent 
needs for maintenance, historically, less than half of the collected 
amount has actually been spent each year. As a result, American ports 
are struggling to make the infrastructure investments they need to 
support American businesses.
  Since the original enactment of the Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT) in 
1986, global shipping has undergone considerable change. Current policy 
incentivizes maximum use of foreign ports to import US-bound goods in 
order to bypass the HMT on which our ports are so dependent. Annually, 
this amounts to $30 million in losses to maritime infrastructure, with 
losses expected to increase if current trends continue. This status quo 
is inequitable, unsustainable and unacceptable.
  Today, I introduced the Maritime Goods Movement Act of the 21st 
Century to address this growing state and national concern. This 
legislation will replace the HMT with a new user fee that will provide 
for the full expenditure of revenue collected to benefit waterways and 
freight, ensure that all US-bound cargo is treated equally regardless 
of point of entry, and provide federal support to address critical 
freight needs at our Nation's largest ports and intermodal freight 
choke points.
  Congress has struggled for years to ensure that our Nation's 
waterways are funded with little to show for its efforts. It's time to 
move forward with a solution that will ensure that American ports 
remain competitive while meeting the realities of global shipping in 
the future.

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