Item No. 9a_supp
Meeting Date: January 7, 2020
Draft Federal Legislative Agenda for 2020
Briefing to Port of Seattle Commission
January 7, 2020
Ryan McFarland, Federal Government Relations Manager, Port of Seattle
Eric Schinfeld, Sr. Manager, Federal Government Relations, Port of Seattle



1

Overview
2019 Key Accomplishments & 2020 Outlook
Priority Agenda Items  Port-wide, Aviation & Maritime
Additional Issues
Supporting or Engaging
Monitoring
Next steps
Incorporate Commission feedback
Seek Commission adoption at 1/28/20 meeting

2

2019 Successes
Maritime
HMT:
HMT reform legislation we helped develop was introduced by the Senate EPW Committee and is under consideration for the
2020 water resources bill.
Helped prevent adoption of HMT reform proposals that did not address donor port issues.
Appropriation of the full $50 million authorized amount for the Section 2106 donor port program is on track
Freight policy:
New Port Infrastructure Development Program grants created in FY19 appropriations bill. NWSA submits application.
Surface transportation authorization proposal expands port eligibility under INFRA and freight formula programs
Aviation
TSA Staffing: Increased TSA staffing levels and compensation at Sea-Tac; MD Lyttle testified in House Homeland on this topic
IAF Activation: Improved partnership with CBP DC leadership on IAF construction and operational readiness efforts; included language
prioritizing CBP staffing to new international facilities in the FY20 Senate THUD appropriations bill
Aviation Noise: Developed shared federal priorities with airport communities; successfully pushed for hiring of an FAA regional
community outreach liaison.
SAF: Included committee report language on a fuel resiliency study in the National Defense Authorization Act
Port-wide
Sustainability: Commissioner Felleman testified in a House Commerce Committee hearing on decarbonization
Tariffs: Substantive engagement, including a joint letter from West Coast Ports. Removal of cranes from tariff list.
Trafficking: Played major role in the US Department of Transportation Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking report.
Impactful Progress on Current Port Priorities
3

2020 Outlook
Presidential Election year + impeachment has potential to stymie most legislative action
Potential for delays or baseline levels in FY2021 appropriations; shutdown risk exists
Potential areas of Port-relevant progress:
Appropriations (Section 2106 funding, TSA & CBP staffing, infrastructure & environmental grants)
Trade (UK)
Potential areas of Port-relevant conflict
Trade (China)
Immigration



Potential Opportunities for Progress on Port Priorities
4

Priority Agenda Items  Port-wide
Welcoming and Competitive Immigration & Trade Policies:
Immigration policies that ensure Port success as well as welcoming of local
immigrants and refugees
Productive, strategic engagement on trade, ensuring tariffs and quotas are
targeted and a last resort; prioritize trade promotion and infrastructure with
tariff collection revenues.


Top Port Priorities
5

Priority Agenda Items  Aviation
Sufficient Infrastructure Funding and Flexibility:
Raise the federal PFC cap, maintaining Commission oversight
Efficient and Safe Airport Operations:
Partner with CBP to ensure success of the International Arrivals Facility (staffing, ORAT)
Partner with TSA to reduce wait times (staffing, canines and technology)
Increased Airport Community Focus:
FAA Reauthorization priorities identified by StART: evaluation of the 65 DNL noise standard; study of
overflight noise/human health; and proposed environmental mitigation pilot program.
StART federal priorities: Smith ultra-fine particulates bill, Lynch aircraft expert consensus act, Smith
secondary noise mitigation investments bill, alternatives to commercial airplane travel.
Expanded Sustainable Aviation Fuels Deployment:
Use of airport & federal grant revenue for benefits of fuel switching
Federal incentives for research, as well as feedstock processing and fuel production facilities
Top Port Priorities  Italics represent new items for 2020
6

Priority Agenda Items  Maritime
Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT) Reform:
Reform the HMT to not disadvantage US ports and provide greater equity for donor ports
Secure the "donor port" HMT rebate program
Fishing Fleet Modernization:
Reform NOAA's Fisheries Finance Program (FFP)
for fishing vessels
Increase the FFP loan authority
Seattle and Tacoma Harbor Deepening:
Obtain funding for design for deepening federal channels serving T-18, T-30 and T-5 in
Seattle and support Tacoma feasibility study.

Top Port Priorities
7

Priority Agenda Items  Maritime (cont'd)
Hiram M. Chittenden Locks Funding:
Advocate for funding for continued federal operation and maintenance of the locks
National Freight Policy and Funding:
Support funding for a strengthened national multimodal freight
strategy and related grant programs, including TIGER/BUILD.
Support sustainable revenue source for freight.
Safe and Efficient Cargo and Passenger Screening:
Advocate for adequate CBP staffing levels
Ensure the federal responsibility for funding CBP services,
equipment and facility development
Puget Sound Restoration:
Support federal resources for Puget Sound restoration
Regulatory reform to speed habitat site development
Support federal engagement in orca recovery
Top Port Priorities  Italics represent new items for 2020
8

Additional Priority Issue Areas: Port-wide
Welcoming and Competitive Immigration & Trade Policies:
Trade policies that open new markets and level playing fields, while
protecting workers and the environment
Permanent protections for DACA-eligible residents
Partnerships to welcome immigrants and refugees to the Port
Standardized federal regulations on biometric technology/data
Sufficient Infrastructure Funding and Flexibility:
Increased aviation, maritime and freight-mobility funding through
appropriations or comprehensive investment legislation
Increased Community Focus:
Improve human trafficking prevention and intervention efforts
Support and Engage  Italics represent new items for 2020
9

Additional Priority Issue Areas: Aviation
Sufficient Infrastructure Funding and Flexibility:
Federal and Congressional support for current and future airport capital projects
Efficient and Safe Airport Operations:
CBP staffing appropriations and TSA law enforcement grant funding
Increased Seattle-based flights into DCA
Increased funding for UAS detection/mitigation;
increased local law enforcement authority
Expedited airfield management program deployment
Increased Community Focus:
Alternatives to fluorinated fire-fighting foams
Expanded Sustainable Aviation Fuels Deployment:
Pursue policies through the annual National Defense
Authorization Act that leverage the U.S. Department of Defense as a key partner in sustainable
aviation fuels research and implementation.
Support and Engage  Italics represent new items for 2020
10

Additional Priority Issue Areas: Maritime
Diesel Emissions Reductions, DERA and alternative fuels:
Support funding for the EPA DERA program and programs that support alternative fuel
use at seaports and Coast Guard facilities
Pebble Mine at Bristol Bay and Offshore Drilling
Oppose mining activity in the Bristol Bay watershed that put fisheries at risk.
Oppose offshore oil and gas drilling in both state and federal waters off the coastline
of Washington state.
Jones Act:
Support the Jones Act with limited flexibility to grant waivers

Support and Engage  Italics represent new items for 2020
11

Additional Issues to Monitor
Port-wide
Welcoming and Competitive Immigration & Trade Policies:
Real ID implementation
Foreign tourism promotion
Census 2020
Community Focus:
Environmental, economic & workforce development funding & support
Local government priorities, such as housing and transportation
Aviation
Efficient and Safe Airport Operations:
PreCheck expansion and TSA innovation
Air Traffic Control system-wide investments
FAA Safety Management Systems improvement
Appropriate Urban Air Mobility policy and regulation
TSA reimbursements to airports for checkpoint-area janitorial services

Monitor  Italics represent new items for 2020
12

Next Steps
Today  Commission briefing in public session
Now through January 28, 2020  Incorporate feedback received
January 28, 2020  Ask Commission for adoption in public session
February 2020  Meetings with Congressional offices to distribute agenda and share
priorities

Questions?
13