Page 12: of Marine News Magazine (September 2015)

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INSIGHTS

Tracy R. Zea

Director-Government

Relations,

Waterways Council, Inc.

ashington-based Tracy Zea advocates for Water-

You previously worked on the Committee on Trans- portation and Infrastructure at the United States ways Council (WCI) goals for authorizations and

House of Representatives. What was the best and

Wappropriations which support a modern, ef? - most important ‘take away’ from that job? Why?

cient, and reliable inland waterways transportation system.

I believe my time on the Committee on Transportation

Zea also works to enhance WCI’s stakeholder relationship and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Water Resources with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers while addition- ally tracking implementation of WRRDA legislation and and Environment prepared me for my current role. Dur- ensuring that WCI’s views are re? ected in the outcomes. ing that time, I developed a keen understanding of what

Before joining WCI, Zea served on the House Committee the Corps of Engineers does in its Civil Works mission, on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) for ? ve years. learned their authorities, along with the principles and guidelines from which the Corps operates. The best and

During his time on the Committee, he assisted in legisla- most important take away from my time on the Transpor- tion related to the Federal Aviation Administration reau- thorization, Map-21 highway reauthorization, and played tation and Infrastructure Committee is being an integral an integral part in the enactment of the Water Resources part of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act

Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014. Prior (WRRDA) of 2014. WRRDA 2014 represents the most to joining the T&I Committee, he worked for Senator policy and reform focused bill since WRDA 1986. My un-

John Thune (R-SD). Armed with a Bachelor of Science derstanding of the new policies and reforms, along with the new authorization process, will bene? t the members of degree in Political Science earned from from South Da-

WCI not only during WRRDA implementation, but for kota State University, Zea knows his way around any trans- portation issue and has already hit the ground running at years to come.

WCI. MarineNews caught up with him just after assuming

It has been a busy two years for inland waterways: his new role inside the Beltway. Listen in this month for a new WRRDA bill, and the industry backed fuel tax his ‘SITREP’ on all things ‘inland.’

September 2015 12

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