On the recordFebruary 17, 2011
in 1986, the Congress wisely established the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to pay for operation and maintenance of our Nation's harbors. This fund, which is fed by a tax based on the value of goods passing through our ports, today has a balance of more than $5.7 billion--a significant sum of money to address our Nation's need for clear and navigable harbors connecting our Nation's farmers and manufacturers to the web of international commerce. But that $5.7 billion is not being used that way, or at least, not to the extent it should be. Despite that significant balance, our harbors are struggling because of unmet maintenance needs. In the Great Lakes region alone, more than 18 million cubic yards of material need to be dredged from harbors to ensure safe navigation. Dredging these harbors would be a $200 million job. And on the coasts, similar backlogs threaten the safe and efficient movement of commerce that creates jobs and helps the American economy grow. The Army Corps of Engineers estimates that the nation's 59 busiest ports are available less than 35 percent of the time because they are inadequately maintained. Unless we act, the failure to address these maintenance needs could slow the flow of goods, reduce economic growth, cost jobs, and create hazards to navigation that could lead to accidents and environmental damage. We need to address that maintenance backlog. The Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund can provide the funding to do so.
