WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01)
testified at the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Water Resources
and Development Act (WRDA) Member Day hearing. Virginia’s economy depends on
domestic and international commercial gateways like the Port of Virginia.
During his testimony, Congressman Wittman, emphasized the importance of WRDA to
the First District to improve inland waterways, flood protection procedures,
and ecosystem restoration.
Video of his testimony can be found here.
Remarks as prepared for delivery below:
Chairwoman Napolitano and Ranking Member
Westerman,
Thank you for allowing me to testify before you
today. I am honored to highlight some of the needs facing Virginia as you
consider the upcoming Water Resources Development package.
Water infrastructure is vital to moving goods
throughout the country, from products we all use in our everyday lives, to
crops and goods we produce domestically and send abroad. I hope that this
committee and the House upholds its duty to authorize locally driven water
infrastructure improvements.
I would like to thank the Army Corps of
Engineers as they work hard to manage more than 1,500 water resources projects
with many of them in Virginia. The Army Corps of Engineers is critical to
our state, from the Norfolk Harbor Channel Deepening project, the Elizabeth
River Southern Branch Navigation Improvements Project, and waterways
restorations the Army Corps of Engineers are involved in many public works
projects in Virginia.
As a proud representative of the Commonwealth
of Virginia, home to the Port of Virginia – one of the largest and busiest
ports on the eastern seaboard - advancing the Port of Virginia’s work to
improve and expand its operations is critical. The Port manages cargo that is
shipped to all 48 contiguous states.
The Port of Virginia is a national gateway for
commerce, supporting businesses across the country. Moreover, in Virginia’s 1st
District, 334 businesses utilize the services of the Port of Virginia.
As a catalyst for commerce, the Port is
attracting growth, fostering development, and creating jobs. On the state
level, cargo moving through the Port supports more than 530,000 jobs statewide
and generates in excess of $90 billion in annual economic impact for Virginia.
Increased shipping traffic and larger vessels
are straining the Port’s current capacity. As larger vessels continue to call
on the Port of Virginia, increasing the depth of the channels at the Port is
becoming progressively important. By deepening to 55 feet, the Port is
positioned to allow larger ships visiting the Port to arrive and depart fully
loaded and will make for safer and more timely passage through the channels.
Additionally, one-way traffic has led to interruptions with operations of vessels
at Naval Station Norfolk presenting possible national security concerns.
Widening to 1,400 ft. will make way for safe
and efficient two-way passage between larger commercial vessels and other
operators in the Harbor and Channels including the Navy.
I would like to take this time to highlight
some WRDA priorities the subcommittee should look at while deliberating about
provisions in the bill.
Full HMT funding solution: I seek a permanent
solution to the full use of annual HMT revenues. The Port Industry has reached
an agreement on an approach for mandatory full use of annual HMT revenues, tax
collections, and interest on the trust fund surplus. Four legislative proposals
are: Full use of HMT Fund, expanded use for Donor & Energy Transfer (D&ET)
ports; regional funding floors, and emerging harbors funding. The dedicated use
of HMT revenues for harbor maintenance as well as the Energy Transfer
provisions will have direct benefits to The Port of Virginia. Unlocking the
Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund is key to ensuring we’re not just adding to the
$100 billion dollar backlog of projects at the Corps of Engineers, but are
actually using existing funds to make real investments in our Nation’s ports,
harbors and waterways.
Benefit-to-Cost Ratio (BCR) for Locally
Preferred Plan: Calculate a navigation project’s BCR based on the National
Economic Development (NED) plan benefits regardless of whether there is a
Locally Preferred Plan (LPP), as the sponsor pays 100% of the additional cost
between the NED and LPP. This prevents an LPP from reducing a project’s BCR
which is used in the project authorization report and new construction start
decisions. The BCR Calculation for LPPs may be applicable for Norfolk
Harbor depending on how the widening is constructed.
Prioritizing funding for shallow draft
navigation projects: Federal funding has historically been provided in the Army
Corps of Engineers’ budget for shallow draft low use navigation projects.
However, current budget metrics are not providing sufficient funding at levels
to sustain maintenance dredging of low use navigation channels throughout the
United States. It would benefit rural localities who rely on routine
maintenance dredging of such low use channels to supply their economies, to
prioritize funding for shallow draft low use navigation projects.
I want to thank the Chairwoman, Ranking Member,
and Members of the committee for this opportunity to testify today. I look
forward to working with the committee, the Corps of Engineers, and Virginians
as we move towards implementing WRDA 2020.
Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st
District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and
the House Armed Services Committee, where he serves as the ranking member of
the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.
