[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16320]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              SHORT SEA SHIPPING TAX EXEMPTION ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAVE WELDON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 18, 2005

  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today I, along with Congressman 
Christopher Shays of Connecticut, introduce the Short Sea Shipping Tax 
Exemption Act of 2005. The purpose of this legislation is to encourage 
cargo shipment along America's coastlines and major waterways in a new 
and innovative fashion.
  With our rail lines and highways at full capacity and a growing 
economy and population, America must find new ways to help cargo be 
transported. The end result being the creation of a blue water highway 
that has robust cargo traffic in and out of America's ports.
  Currently vessels are subject to the Harbor Maintenance Tax each and 
every time when servicing a port. This tax precludes many vessels from 
going to many American ports in a sequential fashion. This legislation 
would eliminate that tax and thus remove a barrier to Short Sea 
Shipping. Without this tax in place a cargo vessel could travel from 
Port Canaveral in Florida, to Baltimore and then onto New York without 
having to pay the tax. The tax would remain for the larger, ocean-going 
cargo ships.
  For Short Sea Shipping/Blue Water Highway to become a reality, it 
will take more than the removal of the Harbor Maintenance Tax for the 
unique vessels needed for Short Sea Shipping, but this a good first 
step.

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