Washington, D.C.–U.S. Representative Chip Cravaack (MN) offered an amendment to the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2013, which would prevent repurposing the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund while U.S. maritime infrastructure is in a state of disrepair.  The amendment was agreed to unanimously.

Currently, American shippers are taxed specifically for the purpose of maintaining U.S. channels and waterways.

“Eight out of the ten of our Nation's largest harbors are not dredged at their authorized depths and widths.  Diverting funds from the Harbor Trust has a direct impact on American job creation and prosperity,” said Rep. Cravaack.  “When ships have to ‘light load’ to clear the shallowest channel, American economic productivity is lost.  We must ensure that the moneys intended for dredging are not siphoned off for other programs, thereby ensuring American competitiveness and the proliferation of U.S. jobs.”

For every inch silted-in, the American laker fleet collectively leaves 8,000 tons of Minnesota ore on the docks in Duluth per voyage – enough to produce over 6,000 cars.  Additionally, “light loading” causes increased transportation costs for U.S. exports and decreases national economic competitiveness.

In the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee last year, Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, testified that the Administration was preparing to expand the scope of projects eligible to receive Harbor Trust Fund monies.  Darcy alluded to the Administration's interest in using the Harbor Trust Fund for port security, among other things.

Representative Cravaack serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee – where he is Vice Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee – the Homeland Security Committee, and the Science, Space and Technology Committee.  The 8th Congressional District covers 18 counties in Northeast Minnesota.

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