Agenda Item 11a_attach2
www.portseattle.org       Meeting Date: January 10, 2023



2022 MARITIME FEDERAL PRIORITIES
As the region and the world continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Port of Seattle is committed to creating a
safe and healthy travel and trade experience, and to serving as a key contributor to regional and statewide economic recovery.
We are focused on developing more modern, high-tech facilities that will facilitate maritime activities; better connecting the
Puget Sound region to the world; maximizing the environmental sustainability of our operations; and ensuring that our local
communities and residents thrive. The federal government can help us achieve this vision by:
I. INVESTING IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND INFRASTRUCTURE
a. Leverage IIJA Dollars: We will work closely with                d. Fund the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks and Channel
federal partners to invest infrastructure grant dollars                Deepening: We support funding for continued
in key Port and regional projects that increase freight               federal operation and maintenance of the locks, as
mobility, facilitate more efficient operations and/or                 well as additional funding for priority, non-routine
reduce environmental and community impacts.                  maintenance. In addition, we support design and
b. Continue Existing Infrastructure Programs: We                   construction phases of projects to deepen the federal
support full funding for a strengthened national                   channels serving the Seattle and Tacoma Harbors.
multimodal freight strategy and related grant                  e. Support Key Funding Needs: We will monitor
programs, including continued authorization and                 additional discussions regarding supplemental federal
funding for the RAISE, INFRA and PIDP discretionary               relief for businesses impacted by the pandemic; in
grant programs. In addition, we support establishing              particular, we support additional federal support for
a sustainable funding source for freight infrastructure.              the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to assist local
Finally, we support federal funding to restore capacity              restaurants impacted by reduced dining and travel
of the West Seattle Bridge for both cargo and                      because of the Omicron variant.
commuters.                                            f.  Support an Efficient and Sustainable Fishing
c.  Implement Harbor Maintenance Tax Reform: We will             Industry: Support key federal priorities for the North
work closely with our federal partners to translate the              Pacific fleet, ranging from economic support for fishing
passage of this long-sought legislation into actionable             fleet modernization to key environmental sustainability
regulations. We also support full appropriations for the             initiatives that address the impacts of climate change
“donor port” HMT rebate program.                               on the fishing industry.

COVID-19 CONTINUES TO IMPACTS CRUISE
The Port of Seattle Alaskan cruise season had   H ome Port Cruise Calls              Annual Cruise Passengers
• 2021: 82                             • 2021: 229,060
has begun to recover from COVID-19           • 2020: 0                      • 2020: 0
• 2019: 211                            • 2019: 1,210,722

    II. FACILITATING A RETURN TO TRAVEL AND TRADE         d. Fund Maritime Decarbonization, Emissions
Reductions, and Renewable Energy: We support
a.  Adjust to Changing Travel Protocols: We will monitor
authorization and full funding for the U.S. Environmental
changes to current national and international guidance
Protection Agency Diesel Emissions Reduction Act
regarding protocols to protect the health of passengers
program, as well as federal programs and funding that
and employees while simultaneously restoring traveler
support electrification, alternative fuel use, and other
confidence in a return to cruise travel.
emissions reductions strategies at ports. We will engage
b. Improve Trade Competitiveness: We will advocate for              with key federal stakeholders to effectively advocate for
productive engagement and negotiations that ensure               progress at the International Maritime Organization on
a fair and level playing field for mutually beneficial                    maritime decarbonization policies, and we will support
trade; ensure that enforcement actions such as tariffs                 efforts and funding that advance the offshore wind
and quotas are a measure of last resort and, when                    industry, particularly in ways that create opportunities
necessary, be carefully and narrowly targeted to address              for the Pacific Northwest to become a leader in
the problem and minimize the unintended impacts on              manufacturing, assembly, deployment and maintenance.
American producers and consumers. In addition, we will
e.  Support Efficient and Consistent Permitting Processes:
advocate for continued federal engagement in solutions
We support increased regulatory staff funding for the U.S.
to help alleviate supply chain congestion, including
Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA Fisheries and the U.S.
funding for supply chain resilience and congestion
Fish and Wildlife Service to reduce permit backlogs. In
reduction programs.
particular, we will work to ensure sufficient resources and
c.  Partner with Federal Agencies: We support adequate                staffing for US Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District to
federal staffing levels to ensure efficient movement of                review and approve mitigation banking applications in an
cargo through the Puget Sound gateway and facilitation             efficient and timely manner. Finally, we oppose changes
of cruise passengers. If necessary, we will advocate                    to the process for permitting projects that jeopardize
for federal funding to supplement lost user fees,                      ports’ ability to fulfill their economic, environmental and
and to ensure that the federal government resumes                 social missions.
responsibility for funding CBP services, equipment and
facility development.                                          IV. ADDRESSING COMMUNITY IMPACT
d.  Monitor the Jones Act and the Passenger Vessel                 a.  Support Immigration Reform: We will be a leading
Services Act: We support the Jones Act’s crucial role                  voice on immigration policies that ensure the Port,
in keeping the U.S. domestic maritime industry viable.                its partners and its customers have the workforce to
In addition, we will monitor proposed changes to the                succeed in the global economy, and that immigrants and
Passenger Vessel Services Act that would impact the                 refugees are fully welcomed into the opportunities that
Port’s Alaska cruise business.                                           our region’s economy provides, particularly related to the
arrival and resettlement of Afghan refugees.
III. IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL
b. Support Economic Development, Tourism, Small
SUSTAINABILITY
Business Recovery and Workforce Development: We
a.   Fight Climate Change We support comprehensive                    support additional federal funding for key priorities
proposals for sector-specific and economy-wide solutions            within the Port’s economic development, workforce
to address the climate crisis with legislation to reduce                 development, and tourism promotion programs,
greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful toxic                   including realigning federal funding, programs and
pollutants while providing flexibility to respond to                    policies to support rebuilding the U.S. small business
changing market conditions and technological advances.            sector, reviving entrepreneurship, closing the racial
b. Oppose Pebble Mine at Bristol Bay and Offshore                 wealth gap and providing worker training, worker
Drilling: We oppose mining activity and other                        advancement and increased earning opportunities for
development proposals in the Bristol Bay watershed that             King County residents employed at Port facilities.
put Bristol Bay fisheries at risk. We oppose offshore oil              c.   Address Racial Equity: We will advocate for
and gas drilling in both state and federal waters off the                comprehensive federal policing reforms that further the
coastline of Washington state.                                        goals of the Port Commission’s Task Force on Policing and
c.  Restore Puget Sound: We will advocate for increased                 Civil Rights. In addition, we support federal legislation on
federal resources and federal agency involvement for                biometric technology that ensures protections for privacy,
Puget Sound restoration and Southern Resident Killer                equity and civil liberties.
Whales recovery                                              d.   Fight Human Trafficking:We will partner with federal
agencies to improve human trafficking prevention and
intervention efforts.
For more information on the Port of Seattle’s 
federal legislative agenda, contact:
Eric Schinfeld, Port of Seattle
Senior Manager Federal & Int’l Gov’t Relations (206) 787-5031 | [email protected]            02/2022