News Release
July 10, 2014
Lakes Legislators Play Key Role in Boost to Corps Funding TOLEDO, OH
Great Lakes legislators played a key role in yesterday¹s vote in the House of Representatives to increase the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers¹ national budget by nearly $58 million. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI), along with Rep. Janice Hahn (D-CA), authored the amendment to the House¹s FY15 Energy & Water Appropriations bill and Representatives Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Dan Benishek (R-MI) and Rick Nolan (D-MN) took the floor to support the measure. The additional funds will push the Corps¹ national dredging budget to the level specified in the recently enacted Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), which should result in more dredging dollars for the Great Lakes.
Following passage of the amendment, Congressman Huizenga said ³Properly dredged harbors along the Great Lakes are critical to Michigan¹s economy and vital to job creation throughout West Michigan. Passage of this amendment demonstrates that harbors, including those in the Great Lakes, are a priority.² During the floor debate Congresswoman Kaptur stressed that ³waterborne shipping is the most efficient mode of moving goods in and out of this country.² Rep. Benishek stated ³All Americans depend on the Great Lakes for transportation of goods and services.² Rep. Nolan focused on the dredging crisis, noting the Great Lakes ³are operating at 80 percent of capacity. It¹s costing us $3 billion in annual business, jobs, growth and income.² ³Passage of the Hahn-Huizenga amendment was a litmus test,² said James H.I. Weakley, President of Great Lakes Maritime Task Force, the largest labor/management coalition ever to promote shipping on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. ³This sends a clear message that the House is serious about keeping the promise it made when passing WRRDA just seven weeks ago.² Weakley, who is also President of Lake Carriers¹ Association, thanked all
30 Great Lakes House members who voted for the amendment. ³Support for ending the dredging crisis has always been bipartisan and this vote is another sterling example of our delegation coming together for a common good.² John D. Baker, 1st Vice President of GLMTF and President Emeritus of the ILA¹s Great Lakes District Council, stressed the need for dredging has never been as great as it is right now. ³The brutal winter of 2013/2014 has everyone on the Lakes trying to play catch up. Cargo movement in March and April was a fraction of normal volumes and the St. Lawrence Seaway recorded its latest opening ever. Every ship needs to utilize every inch of draft available to it.² Tom Curelli, 2nd Vice President of GLMTF and Director of Operations for Fraser Shipyards, Inc., cautioned that the higher water levels have not lessened the need for dredging. ³Even the best loads right now still represent a loss of 3-4 percent of the vessel¹s carrying capacity. The gap will start to grow again when water levels begin their seasonal decline in autumn. Dredging is still the only way to restore the Great Lakes Navigation System.² Paul Doell, 3rd Vice President of GLMTF and Legislative Director for American Maritime Officers, urged continued adherence to the funding levels called for in the WRRDA. ³It will take several years to fully remove the dredging backlog on the Lakes. More than 18 million cubic yards of sediment clog our ports and waterways. Congress must again and again insist that the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund only be used for its intended purpose: Dredging.
Founded in 1992, Great Lakes Maritime Task Force promotes domestic and international shipping on the Great Lakes. With 85 members, it is the largest coalition to ever speak for the Great Lakes shipping community and draws its membership from both labor and management representing U.S.-flag vessel operators, shipboard and longshore unions, port authorities, cargo shippers, terminal operators, shipyards and other Great Lakes interests.
GLMTF¹s primary focus has been on ending the dredging crisis in recent years, but other goals include construction of a second Poe-sized lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, upholding the Jones Act and other U.S. maritime cabotage laws; maximizing the Lakes overseas trade via the St. Lawrence Seaway; opposing exports and/or increased diversions of Great Lakes water; and expanding short sea shipping on the Lakes.
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For more information contact Glen Nekvasil, Secretary
Tags: harbors, navigation, policy, ports