May 13 - The U.S. Senate has passed the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill for the financial year 2017, by a margin of 90 to eight.
The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) praised the passage of the bill, which funds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers navigation programme, providing crucial funding for the maintenance and improvement of coastal and inland navigation waterways in the USA.
For ports, the bill includes USD1.3 billion for Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund work - some USD37 million above the fiscal 2016 funding level and USD160 million above the target established under previous legislation.
"This is extremely important legislation that will aid our economy and environment, and the ability of America's ports to handle increasingly larger cargo and passenger ships," said AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle. "It reflects substantial advocacy by AAPA and our member seaports to appropriate crucial funding to maintain and improve our nation's navigation infrastructure and provide more donor equity."
