Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr., M.D., (R-South Louisiana) released the following statement after leading a bipartisan letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) encouraging President Obama to fully utilize annual receipts to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) in his fiscal year 2013 budget:

“All funds collected by the HMTF should be utilized for the purpose they were intended: maintenance of our nation’s ports and harbors.  The vast majority of Louisiana’s $50 billion in projected exports this year will be shipped out on its waterways. Continuing to spend HMTF funds elsewhere negatively impacts our nation’s commerce. Ports and harbors must remain open for business for American goods to compete in the global market.

“Louisiana’s ports and harbors serve as gateways to domestic and international trade. Unfortunately, years of insufficient maintenance dredging of coastal and inland ports are apparent. This problem reduces port depth, severely limits ship traffic, and prevents valuable cargo from moving efficiently. The reduction of commercial shipping adversely impacts national, regional, and local economies while stunting job growth.       

“The HMTF has an approximate balance of $6.1 billion. Although the fund collects $1.3 billion in annual receipts, the Administration allocates only half of the collection, $700 million, toward maintenance of ports and harbors. The Port of Lake Charles, the nation’s 11^th largest port, serves as a prime example of an economic engine being abused by the federal government’s failure to dedicate these funds for their intended purpose.    

 “I fully support this bipartisan measure supported by 81 Members of Congress calling on the Administration to allocate HMTF funds in a manner which ensures our nation’s ports and harbors continue providing avenues for commercial shipping to flourish in America.”

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