The American Association of Port Authorities issued a news release lauding proposed changes to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL). Excerpts below, or read the entire news release at AAPA.

In meetings this year with Chairman Mica, AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle stressed the need for full use of the tax to meet dredging needs nationwide and called for a solution to ensure that the annual revenue collected would be fully used for maintaining the nation’s ports and harbors at their authorized and required navigation depths and widths. Mr. Nagle and Chairman Mica also discussed needed reforms to project delivery and regulatory processes that add needless time and cost to transportation infrastructure development.

AAPA applauds Chairman Mica’s vision for comprehensive transportation policy and legislation and believes the time is right to put needed efficiencies in place and protect and fully use harbor maintenance taxes already collected for their intended purpose.