AAPA: America’s Water Infrastructure Needs and Challenges at EPW

Speaking on behalf of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), Port of Cleveland President and CEO, William Friedman, will testify before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) today, in a hearing titled America’s Water Infrastructure Needs and Challenges.

Mr. Friedman’s testimony, which will focus on issues related to navigation infrastructure maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement, is to help committee members better understand and appreciate some of the critical infrastructure issues faced by America’s public ports, AAPA said.

In addition to providing examples of waterside infrastructure needs, Mr. Friedman will offer AAPA’s recommendations for water resources legislation to enhance the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers navigation program.

Also testifying on the same panel will be representatives for the Restore the Mississippi Delta Coalition, the National Association of Counties, the Congressional Research Service and the Muskogee City-County Port Authority in Oklahoma.

As AAPA’s U.S. Delegation chairman-elect, Mr. Friedman will discuss the value to the nation’s economic future of constructing and maintaining 21st century infrastructure, stressing that port-related infrastructure must be part of any broad infrastructure investment legislation the committee develops.

He will also share three key AAPA recommendations for inclusion in the next WRDA bill. They are:

• that future Harbor Maintenance Tax revenues go directly to the Corps of Engineers rather than into the U.S. General Fund;
• that Congress authorize and construct navigation project improvements recommended in the Corps’ Chief of Engineer’s reports;
• that additional streamlining be implemented on the Corps’ study process for navigation channel improvements.