8e. Presentation

2022 Federal Legislative Agenda Action

Item No. 8e_supp
Meeting Date: January 25, 2022
Federal Legislative Agenda for 2022
Eric Schinfeld, Sr. Manager, Federal & International Government Relations, Port of Seattle




1

Overview
2021 Key Accomplishments & 2022 Outlook
Priority Agenda Items  Port-wide, Aviation & Maritime
Additional Issues
Supporting or Engaging
Monitoring
Next steps
Pursue implementation and advocacy efforts

2

2021 Successes
Passage of the American Rescue Plan Act: $154 million for SEA operations, $21 million for tenant relief
Passage of the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act: ~$240 million direct allocation for SEA infrastructure plus potential for ~$50
million in discretionary grant applications; ~$25-50 million in discretionary grants for seaport and partners
Passage of the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act: Allowed the 2021 Alaska cruise season to occur
Successful visits of six high level federal officials: Commerce Secretary, Commerce Deputy Secretary, US Trade Representative,
Transportation Deputy Secretary, CEQ Chair, FMC Commissioners
Aviation Managing Director testimony to the US House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee's Aviation Subcommittee: On
COVID impacts/recovery
Aircraft noise and emissions progress:
FAA approval of limited secondary noise insulation;
Port-Cities letter to FAA re: noise annoyance survey;
introduction of Rep. Smith legislation for EPA aviation noise & air quality mitigation grants;
submitted FAA Environmental Pilot Program grant application;
final GAO study on FAA implementation of Next Gen that included SEA-Cities input.

Impactful Progress on Current Port Priorities
3

2022 Outlook
Divided government continues in Washington, DC with difficult November election looming
Limits potential for legislative progress
President has significant authorities to continue to set policy through Executive Order and Agency rulemaking
Potential areas of Port-relevant legislative progress:
Appropriations
Scaled-back Build Back Better Act?
"China policy" (innovation, manufacturing & trade policies in the Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competitiveness Act)
Potential areas of Port-relevant executive/agency progress:
Infrastructure implementation
COVID-19 regulation
Clean Energy/Climate
Trade
Immigration

Potential Opportunities for Progress on Port Priorities
4

Priority Agenda Items  Port-wide
Competitive Trade Policies
a.   Productive engagement and negotiations that ensure a fair and level playing field for mutually beneficial trade
i.    Re-evaluating  and/or  rescinding  existing  tariffs  and  other  trade  barriers  in  light  of  supply  chain  impacts,
inflationary cost effects and overall strategic value relative to diplomatic and economic goals.
ii.   Continued federal engagement in solutions to help alleviate supply chain congestion.
Comprehensive Solutions to Address the Climate Crisis
a.   Support comprehensive proposals for sector-specific and economy-wide policy solutions to address the climate crisis
Welcoming Immigration Policies:
a.   Be a leading voice on immigration policies that ensure the Port, its partners and its customers have the workforce to
succeed in the global economy


Top Port Priorities  Italics represent new items for 2022
5

Priority Agenda Items  Aviation
Sufficient Infrastructure Funding and Flexibility:
a.   Successfully implement the airport funding provisions of the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
b.   Raise the federal cap on the Passenger Facility Charge
Efficient and Safe Airport Operations:
a.   Partner with TSA and CBP on the safe and healthy recovery of air travel
b.   Coordinate with CBP to ensure successful operation of the IF
c.    Develop shared airport operations priorities for the 2023 FAA Reauthorization legislation
Expanded Sustainable Aviation Fuel Deployment:
a.   Authority for airports to use airport revenue and federal grant funding to support fuel switching
b.   Federal funding for research on S A F, as well as for feedstock processing and fuel production facilities
c.    Leverage DoD as a key partner for S A F, such as a SAF pilot program at military bases near SAF-focused airports as contained in
the House-passed 2021 NDAA
d.   Advocate for a SAF blender's credit, as contained in the House-passed Build Back Better Act.
e.   Advocate for a SAF infrastructure grant program, as contained in the House-passed Build Back Better Act

Top Port Priorities  Italics represent new items for 2022
6

Priority Agenda Items  Aviation (con't)
Increased Airport Communities Focus:
a.   Implementation of key provisions of the 2018 FAA Reauthorization:
i.    the provisions related to evaluation of the 65 DNL noise standard (sections 173, 187 and 188);
ii.   the study of the impact of overflight noise on human health (section 189);
iii.  and the environmental mitigation pilot program (section 190).
b.   Federal policies:
i.    Representative Smith's Protecting Airport Communities from Particle Emissions Act;
ii.   Representative Lynch's Air Traffic Noise and Pollution Expert Consensus Act;
iii.  Representative Smith's legislation to allow for secondary noise mitigation investments;
iv.  Representative Smith's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) aviation environmental justice grant programs legislation;
v.  High-speed rail investments;
vi.  increased federal investment in existing FAA noise grant programs;
vii. increased federal investment in sustainable aviation fuels and other alternative energy sources;
viii. Funding for a "Healthy Ports Initiative" to "mitigate the cumulative impacts of air pollution on neighborhoods near ports,
often communities of color", as contained in the House-passed Build Back Better Act;
ix.  increased federal investments in aircraft modernization and environmental performance;
x.  policies and regulations that address noise and emissions impacts of supersonic aircraft; and
xi.  policies and regulations that address noise impacts of electric aircraft.
c.    Coordinate  with  StART  stakeholders  to  develop  aviation  noise  and  emissions  priorities  to  include  in  the  2023  FAA
Reauthorization legislation, and communicate those priorities to key federal partners.
Top Port Priorities  Italics represent new items for 2022
7

Priority Agenda Items  Maritime
National Freight Policy and Funding:
a.   Successfully implement the maritime funding provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
b.   Advocate for funding for supply chain resilience and congestion reduction as contained in the House-passed BBBA.
b.   Increased federal funding for a strengthened national multimodal freight strategy and related grant programs.
c.    Support establishing a sustainable funding source for freight infrastructure
Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT) Reform:
a.   Secure implementation of the HMT reform provisions.
b.   Support appropriations for the "donor port" HMT rebate program


Maritime Decarbonization
a.    Successfully implement the maritime decarbonization provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
b.    Advocate for funding for maritime decarbonization programs, as contained in the House-passed BBBA.
c.     Full funding for the DERA program
d.    Progress at the International Maritime Organization on maritime decarbonization policies.
e.    Advance the offshore wind industry, particularly in ways that create opportunities for the Pacific Northwest to become a
leader in manufacturing, assembly, deployment and maintenance.
Top Port Priorities  Italics represent new items for 2022
8

Priority Agenda Items  Maritime (con't)
Puget Sound Restoration:
a.    Federal resources for Puget Sound and Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) restoration
b.    Reforms to federal regulatory processes to speed the approval and creation of Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) and
home port habitat sites.
c.     Support federal agency involvement in the SRKW recovery effort
Seattle and Tacoma Harbor Deepening:
a.   Support design of the West Waterway portion of the Seattle Harbor Navigation Improvement Project
b.   Support authorization of design and construction of the Tacoma Harbor Navigation Improvement Project.

West Seattle Bridge
a.    Support federal funding for the West Seattle Bridge
Hiram M. Chittenden Locks Funding:
a.   Continued federal operation and maintenance of the locks

Safe and Efficient Cargo and Passenger Screening:
a.   Support adequate CBP staffing levels to ensure efficient movement of cargo and facilitation of cruise passengers.
b.   Ensure the federal government resumes responsibility for funding CBP services, equipment and facility development.
Top Port Priorities  Italics represent new items for 2022
9

Additional Priority Issue Areas: Port-wide
COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery
a.   Clear updates to the Washington Congressional delegation on how already received federal relief is being utilized
b.   Monitor ongoing federal agency budget impacts from the loss of user fees
c.    Monitor changes to national health and safety protocols that protect the health of aviation and maritime passengers
and employees while simultaneously restoring traveler confidence in a return to air travel and cruise ships.
d.   Additional COVID relief, particularly for small businesses and restaurants
Welcoming and Competitive Immigration & Trade Policies:
a.   Advocate for new trade agreements that open new markets and level playing fields, while creating verifiable,
measurable and enforceable standards to protect workers and the environment.
b.   Support permanent legal protections for DACA
c.    Implement programs that showcase the Port as a welcoming gateway for immigrants
and refugees, particularly related to the arrival and resettlement of Afghan refugees.
d.   Support federal legislation on biometric technology
Increased Community Focus:
a.   Federal funding for workforce development for employees at Port facilities.
b.   Partner with federal agencies to improve human trafficking prevention and
intervention efforts.
c.    Advocate for comprehensive federal policing reforms
d.   Support rebuilding the U.S. small business sector, reviving entrepreneurship, and closing the racial wealth gap.
Support and Engage  Italics represent new items for 2022
10

Additional Priority Issue Areas: Aviation
Sufficient Infrastructure Funding and Flexibility:
a.   Ensure that federal agencies and members of Congress are supportive of capital projects and plans; keep federal
partners updated on the progress of the SAMP near-term projects environmental review.
b.   Take advantage of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure funding in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
c.    Support funding for sustainable transportation options, including high-speed rail
Efficient and Safe Airport Operations:
a.   Address flight impacts from 5G wireless implementation near airports.
b.   Increase overall funding for CBP officers dedicated to international airport passenger processing.
c.    Preserve TSA funding for Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) reimbursement grants.
d.   Support the recommendations of the Blue-Ribbon Task Force on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Mitigation at
Airports and the FAA Drone Advisory Committee
e.   Encourage expedited deployment of the FAA's Termi na l Flight Data
Manager (TFDM) airfield congestion management program


Increased Airport Communities Focus:
a.   Engage with FAA leadership to speed the transition to non-fluorinated airfield fire-fighting foams.
b.   Funding to address indoor air quality near airports, particularly schools
Support and Engage  Italics represent new items for 2022
11

Additional Priority Issue Areas: Maritime
Pebble Mine at Bristol Bay and Offshore Drilling:
a.   Monitor any potential future action on these topics, and actively oppose new efforts to conduct these activities.
Jones Act and Passenger Vessel Services Act:
a.   Support the Jones Act. Maintain limited flexibility to grant waivers from Jones Act regulations in extraordinary case
b.   Monitor proposed changes to the Passenger Vessel Services Act that would impact the Port 's Alaska cruise business.
Federal permitting
a.    Increase regulatory staff funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service to reduce permit backlogs.
b.    Ensure sufficient resources and staffing for US Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District to review and approve
mitigation banking applications in an efficient and timely manner.
c.     Oppose changes to the process for permitting projects that jeopardize the ports' ability to fulfill their economic,
environmental and social missions; ensure that significant modifications to federal permitting regulations are
made only through an act of Congress or a formal rulemaking process, and that federal regulatory and permitting
regimes are applied consistently across the country.

Support and Engage  Italics represent new items for 2022
12

Additional Issues to Monitor
Portwide
Welcoming and Competitive Immigration & Trade Policies:
a.  Coordinate with federal agencies on implementation of REAL ID.
b.  Support federal efforts to increase and facilitate tourism into the United States.
Increased Communities Focus:
a.  Secure additional federal funding for key priorities within the Port 's
economic development, tourism development and workforce development programs.
b.  Support the federal priorities of local government partners, such as
increased funding for homelessness & housing, securing transportation investments,
and policies that improve the environment and quality of life for our region's residents.



Monitor  Italics represent new items for 2022
13

Additional Issues to Monitor
Aviation
Efficient and Safe Airport Operations:
a.   Support TSA efforts to expand PreCheck
b.   Support our nation's Air Traffic Control (ATC) system
c.    Encourage FAA to provide structure and systemic context to safety management
d.   Encourage a consistent and predictable federal approach to urban air mobility
and advanced air mobility (AAM) deployment
e. Monitor discussions related to increased access for Seattle-based flights
into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
f.     Support continued funding for TSA reimbursements to airports
g.   for checkpoint-area janitorial services.
Maritime
Efficient and Sustainable Fishing Industry:
a.   Support key federal priorities for the North Pacific fleet
b.   Work closely with fishing industry stakeholders to support key environmental
initiatives and address the impacts of climate change on the fishing industry.
Monitor  Italics represent new items for 2022
14

Next Steps
Today  Ask Commission for adoption in public session
February 2022  Meetings with Congressional offices to distribute agenda and share priorities




Questions?
15

Appendix


16

Major Federal Investment in Infrastructure
On Monday, November 15, President Biden signed an 8-year, $1.2 trillion investment
($550 billion in new money) in a wide variety of areas:
Roads and Bridges  $110B               Power and Grid  $65B
Passenger and Freight Rail  $66B         Resiliency  $47.2B
Safety  $11B                          Addressing Legacy Pollution  $21B
Public Transit  $39.2B                  Western Water Infrastructure  $8.3B
Broadband  $65B                      Clean School Buses and Ferries  $7.5B
Ports and Waterways  $16.6B            Electric Vehicle Charging  $7.5B
Airports/FAA  $25B                    Reconnecting Communities  $1B
Water Infrastructure  $55B
17

IIJA Port-specific provisions
$20 billion for airports
$5 billion for FAA Facilities and Equipment
$5.225 billion for seaports
$27.1 billion for "Port eligible" transportation investments that
other jurisdictions can apply for as well, like $12.5 billion for
RAISE and $3.2 billion for INFRA

18

Other IIJA Provisions Of Interest to Port and/or Cities Include:
$1 billion for culvert removal, replacement and restoration
$351 billion for highways (307 billion provided through formula to states)
$16 billion for the Highway Safety Improvement Program
$28 billion to the existing Bridge program and a new $16 billion bridge grant program
$7.5 billion for EV Charging Stations with a $5B in formula funding and $2.5B in grant
program to support 500,000 strong EV Charging Station Network
$250 million for a new Congestion Relief Program
$6.4 billion to create a new Carbon Reduction Formula Program
$8 billion for the Federal Transit Administration Capital Investment Grants program
$5.25 billion for the Low-No Emissions vehicle program
$500 million for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy
improvements at public school facilities, including investments that "lead to an
improvement in teacher and student health, including indoor air quality"
19

Specifics on the Airport Dollars*:
$15 billion for airport infrastructure grants distributed by formula
An estimated ~$240 million directly to SEA
Airports would likely be allowed to use these funds for any "PFC-eligible projects" except debt service.
$5 billion for a new "airport terminal program" distributed via competitive grants
55% of which is reserved for large hubs like SEA to compete for
for "terminal projects that increase capacity, improve passenger access, replace aging infrastructure,
expand accessibility for persons with disabilities, and improve airport access for historically
disadvantaged populations."
"Any funds that remain unobligated shall be made available in the fifth fiscal year for competitive grants
that reduce airport emissions, reduce noise impact to the surrounding community, reduce dependence on
the electrical grid, or provide general benefits to the surrounding community."
*Grant criteria to be determined by FAA rulemaking. No SEA decisions on actual spending made until then.

20

What Can & Can't the Airport Money Do?*
Can IIJA airport money be used to build a new airport?
There are no provisions in the legislation that address "new airports"; money is mainly
allocated by existing enplanements and hub size.
Even if there was, money must be spent within five years, which is unlikely the time horizon for
a new airport.
Can IIJA airport money be used for community benefits?
The allocation formula funds can be used for the kinds of things that airport revenue can be
used for, including limited types of environmental investments.
The competitive grant dollars do not have any criteria for community investments
Leftover money in year five looks to be highly flexible
Non-airport IIJA dollars provide additional benefits directly to the Port & community  from
economic development to electrification  and the Port can help coordinate on those grants.
*actual grant criteria to be determined by FAA rulemaking
21

Build Back Better Act
On November 19, the U.S. House passed the Build Back Better Act, which would invest approximately $1.75 trillion over
five years in a wide variety of health care, childcare, education, immigration, and climate priorities.
Port-specific provisions:
$3.5B in "grants to reduce air pollution at ports" to purchase or install zero-emission port equipment; conduct any
relevant planning or permitting; or develop qualified climate action plans.
$60M to reduce diesel emissions resulting from goods movement facilities, and vehicles servicing goods movement
facilities, in low-income disadvantaged communities to address health impacts of such emissions.
$600M to the U.S. Maritime Administration for grants that support supply chain resilience, reduce port congestion,
develop offshore wind infrastructure, environmental remediation, and reduce impact of ports on the environment.
$300M to U.S. Department of Transportation to support investments for projects that develop, demonstrate, or apply
low-emission aviation technology to produce, transport, blend, or store Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
A refundable blenders tax credit per gallon of SAF sold as part of a qualified fuel mix beginning in 2023.
*Uncertain future for the legislation in the U.S. Senate.
22

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