WASHINGTON — Today, Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán, along with Reps. Dave Reichert, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to reform the outdated Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF).
“For far too long, federal funding for seaports has been inadequate and unfair to donor ports like the Port of Los Angeles which contributes far too much into the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund than it receives,” said Rep. Barragán. “I am proud to partner with Congressman Reichert in this bipartisan effort to provide equity and more funding for operations and maintenance at our nation’s seaports, enhancing economic competitiveness and creating good-paying jobs.”
The Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Reform Act of 2017 would make sure all of the money collected through the Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT) each year is returned directly to ports in order to improve infrastructure and keep ports competitive. Currently, the HMT is not collected or spent in a way that ensures ports can continue to compete on a level playing field. Some ports, including the Ports of Seattle, Tacoma, Los Angeles, and Long Beach, receive just pennies for each dollar contributed to the HMTF from cargo unloaded at their ports. As so-called “donor ports,” they don’t receive the necessary investments they need to remain competitive. In recent years, U.S. ports have seen ports outside of the country target and capture U.S.-bound cargo in part because of the cost advantage of not charging the HMT. The legislation introduced today would address these inequities, enhance economic competitiveness, and support jobs in Washington state and around the U.S. by ensuring donor ports can access funding for port infrastructure and rebates to shippers transporting cargo through their ports rather than routing cargo through Canada or Mexico to the U.S.
“As one of the most trade-dependent states, strong ports are critical to Washington’s local economy,” said Rep. Reichert. “For too long, our ports have been put at a disadvantage – contributing much more than their fair share to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund and facing the loss of cargo to foreign ports because of the Harbor Maintenance Tax. By increasing funding to these ports including for rebates to shippers, the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Reform Act will help level the playing field supporting jobs and communities in Washington.”
The Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Reform Act of 2017 would:
- Establish full use of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund each year with interest by creating a direct spending mechanism for the HMTF;
- Ensure HMTF funds collected are allocated fully and more equitably by establishing a set-aside for donor ports;
- Address the issue of cargo diversion by increasing investments to donor ports to provide rebates to shippers transporting cargo through their ports or for port infrastructure needs;
- Support operation and maintenance at our small ports and harbors by updating the baseline for the set-aside for small ports; and
- Better meet our nationwide harbor and waterway needs.
Other House cosponsors of the bill include: Reps. Adam Smith (WA-09), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Denny Heck (WA-10), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), and Alan Lowenthal (CA-47).
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Nanette Diaz Barragán is proud to represent California’s 44th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Carson, Compton, Lynwood, North Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, San Pedro, South Gate, Walnut Park, Watts, Willowbrook and Wilmington.