Ensure Maintenance of U.S. Harbors: On July 8, the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-OH), held a hearing to examine H.R. 104, the “Realize America’s Maritime Promise” (RAMP) Act. The measure, introduced by Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA), requires that revenue coming into the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) each year, including interest on the balance, is all invested in U.S. harbor construction and maintenance. Currently, user fees collected from shippers and deposited into the Trust Fund are not being fully utilized to maintain the nation’s harbors. Instead, some of these funds are being withheld from their intended purpose and used to offset unrelated federal spending. If enacted, H.R. 104 could significantly change maritime shipping in the United States and worldwide. Restoring harbors and channels to their authorized dimensions will make them safer, accommodate larger vessels, and increase growth in the import and export industries. H.R. 104 has more than 100 bipartisan cosponsors.
Streamline the Recovery Process Following Local Disasters: On July 14, the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, chaired by Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA), held an oversight hearing to examine ways to better manage federal disaster recovery programs, help communities get back on their feet more quickly following major disasters, and save taxpayers money. The hearing was held in anticipation of reauthorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the federal government’s lead agency for preparing for, mitigating against, responding to, and recovering from disasters and emergencies. The panels focused on finding ways to streamline the recovery process through expedited assistance processes, improving coordination among the relevant federal agencies, supporting mitigating efforts before a disaster strikes, and ensuring proper planning.
Crude Oil Released in Montana: On July 14, the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, chaired by Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), held a hearing to focus on the July 1, 2011 accidental release of crude oil from the Silvertip Pipeline in Yellowstone County, Montana. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration estimates that 750 – 1,000 barrels of crude oil were released into the Yellowstone River as a result of the accident. The cause of the spill has not yet been determined.
More information on the hearings can be found here (http://www NULL.transportation NULL.house NULL.gov/).