Page 24: of Marine News Magazine (September 2019)

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COLUMN WASHINGTON WATCH

More Money, Same Problems for U.S. Port Infrastructure

By Jeff Vogel

It appears that Washington, DC, gram, which was appropriated $900 million for Fiscal Year has ? nally taken notice of the need to (FY) 2019, a portion of which will go to port development make direct federal investment in the (speci? cally including inland port projects). There is also an

Nation’s port infrastructure. The Con- open NOFA for the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) solidated Appropriations Act, 2019, America’s Marine Highways Program, which was provided provided $292.73 million for the U.S. $7 million in funding for FY 2019, with applications due on

Department of Transportation’s (DOT) September 20. In aggregate, the funding available for port

Port Infrastructure Development Pro- infrastructure projects in FY 2019 far exceeds any prior year.

gram. After much anticipation, DOT Looking forward, the current version of the Transpor-

Vogel ? nally published its Notice of Funding tation, and Housing and Urban Development (THUD)

Availability (NOFA) on June 18, with appropriations bill under Senate consideration would applications due on September 16. provide $1 billion for the BUILD Transportation grants

Similarly, port stakeholders are awaiting DOT’s award program, $225 million for the Port Infrastructure Devel- announcements for the Better Utilizing Investments to Le- opment Program and $15 million for the America Marine verage Development (BUILD) Transportation grant pro- Highway Program. In addition, Rep. Peter DeFazio, Chair

September 2019 24 MN

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