We're often called upon to provide advice regarding existing federal, state and local economic development programs and how various proposed projects fit within their boundaries (or not). We are also fortunate, through our various industry alliances, to be able to comment on legislation as it develops. And for the US Maritime Industry, the reintroduction of the SHIPS Act and the Restoring America's Maritime Dominance Executive Order is a generational opportunity.
Before the 4th of July holiday, we dropped an update and mentioned we'd have more to say on this topic. Well, here's more.
Today we filed comments with the Secretary of Transportation and Marine Administration (copying friendly Congressional delegations - you know who you are) expressing our whole-hearted support for the Act and EO. While the EO is pretty skinny on details (that's kinda what those typically are - policy imperatives with details left to Congress and Federal Agencies), the SHIPS Act is not. A bi-partisan, bi-cameral effort, it seeks to implement the Administration's objective to rebuild the American shipbuilding industry by incentivising all things related to that. As a "for instance," the sleepy little Small Shipyard Grant Program would have it's budget increased to $100M per year(round) from its current ~$4.5M annual budget. This one is especially pleasing to us as when we were lobbying Congressional staff in DC last March, we specifically called on the Members to either "kill or fund" this (and Marine Highway) - looks like they took the right path!
Rather than belabor what you can simply read for yourself, here's the bullet points:
SHIPS Act Comments
- Prioritize Funding for and Updates to Existing Programs
- Establish a Block Grant Program to Support State Departments of Transportations’ Maritime Departments
- Create a Fund for Port Operations Staffing
- Immediate Attention to Corps Backlog & Reshaping Infrastructure Prioritization
MPZ-Specific Comments
- Alternative Approaches to Broaden the Reach of the MPZ Program
- Extension of Time for MPZ Program
- MPZ Preference for Grant Awards
Other MARAD Program(s)
- Extension of Inland River Set-Asides to MHP, SSG & MPZ Programs
- Prioritization of Investments at Shuttered Coal Facilities and BRAC’d Military Bases
- Expansion of Applications Allowed per Round
- Eliminate (or Diversify) Marine Highway Route Sponsors
We're hopeful that some of our suggestions are acted upon and placed in service here shortly. If we hear anything, we'll let you know.
