Harbor Maintenance Fund Bill Passes House
A bill that would allow harbor maintenance spending to go forward outside the appropriations process, as long as there is money in the Harbor Maintenance Fund, passed the House of Representatives the evening of Oct. 28, 296-109, but faces an uncertain future in the Senate.
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The American Association of Port Authorities called its passage a major milestone. “Passage of H.R. 2440 is a critical first step to solve the problems with the HMT,” AAPA President Chris Connor said. “The legislation will stop the diversion of HMTF payments and provide a means for Congress to spend down the more than $9 billion that has been diverted in previous years.”
Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., issued a joint statement with the top Republican on the House Budget Committee calling the bill irresponsible, and said that Congress should not increase harbor and navigation spending past the increase that's part of the Bipartisan Budget Act