Page 21: of Marine News Magazine (February 2015)

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COLUMN OP/ED

Moving Ahead With the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund

By Barry Holliday, Executive Director for the Dredging Contractors of America “How can we have a 21st century econ- der Protection and directed to the Trust Fund. However, the omy with a 20th century infrastructure?” monies are not immediately eligible for dredging activities.

Vice President Joe Biden recently posed this Those monies can only be spent if the funding is actually question to an audience at the American As- appropriated by Congress. The Trust Fund has continued to sociation of Port Authorities (AAPA) annual increase and now has a surplus in excess of $8 billion dollars. meeting in Houston, Texas. He went on to The reason for the large surplus is that only a little more say, “the greatest economic power in the world needs the than half of the annual revenues collected are appropriated most dynamic port system in the world.” I happen to agree for maintenance of the harbors and ports. Last year, $1.6 with this statement. We must