Date: 2014-05-20
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the Conference Report to H.R. 3080. the Water Resources Reform and Development Act. I support this conference report because it makes smart investments in water infrastructure that are critical to the nations economic future and the economy of my home state of Texas. I thank Chairman SHUSTER and Ranking Member RAHALL for their work in shepherding this legislation to this point. which is just one step away from presenting the bill to the President for signature. Mr. Speaker. the last water resources bill signed into law was six years ago. making this one long overdue. We need to keep Americas economic recovery moving forward by ensuring that when American workers make products. we can efficiently move them through our ports to overseas markets. American international trade accounts for more than one quarter of Gross Domestic Product. More than 99 percent of our overseas trade moves through Americas seaports. Cargo moving through our seaports is responsible for more than 13 million American jobs and generates in excess of $200 billion annually in federal. state. and local tax revenues. Water infrastructure is critical to the Port of Houston. one of the major economic engines not only for my congressional district but also the nation. The Port of Houston is home to more than 100 steamship lines offering services that link Houston with 1.053 ports in 203 countries. It is also home to a $15 billion petrochemical complex. the largest in the nation and second largest worldwide. For America to remain on top the global economy. we need to be competitive internationally so that global consumers increasingly purchase Americanmade goods. This bill takes an important first step in addressing an issue of key concern to not only the Port of Houston and Galveston in Texas. but to all of our nations ports. the collection and use of the federal Harbor Maintenance Tax. Specifically. the Conference Report provides for increased expenditures from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) for harbor maintenance activities each year. Under the agreement. the target expenditure for Fiscal Year 2015 is 67 percent of the funds collected in 2014. with the rate rising to 100 percent of the funds collected in 2024. The conference report also measure requires the Army Corps of Engineers to assess the operation and maintenance needs of U.S. harbors and. to the maximum extent practicable. to prioritize future trust fund spending on an equitable allocation among all harbor types. The Conference Report also requires that any increase in annual Corps project operation and maintenance expenditures. which come from the HMTF. be accompanied by an equal increase in total appropriations provided for the corps civil works program. Mr. Speaker. I am particularly pleased that the Conference Report retains the provision inserted by an amendment I offered and which was accepted during the initial House consideration of this legislation. That Jackson Lee amendment provides that in making recommendations pursuant to Section 118 of the Act. the Secretary shall consult with key stakeholders. including State. county. and city governments. and. where applicable. State and local water districts. and in the case of recommendations concerning projects that substantially affect underrepresented communities the Secretary shall also consult with historically Black colleges and universities. Tribal Colleges and Universities. and other minorityserving institutions. I also am pleased that the Conference Report retains the provision permitting nonfederal entities to invest in their harbor maintenance and step in when the Army Corps of Engineers cannot. This legislative provision particularly benefits ports like the Port of Houston which have invested substantial amounts of their own funds to complete critical infrastructure in order to provide for safe navigation of larger vessels. and to assure its terminals remain competitive in the world market. I believe the WRRDA bill would be even better if an amendment I offered directing the Secretary of the Army to encourage the participation of minority and womenowned businesses in Corps projects and for GAO to submit a report to Congress within 2 years on the participation of minority- and womenowned businesses in such projects. Mr. Speaker. Americas public ports and their private sector partners plan to invest more than $46 billion in seaport infrastructure in the next five years. Maintaining Americas link to the global marketplace by creating and maintaining modern and efficient seaport and waterway infrastructure will provide significant benefits to our nations economic vitality. job growth. and international competitiveness. as well as create sizable tax revenues from cargo and trade activities. For these reasons. I support the Conference Report and urge my colleagues to support it.