Rep. Hoyle’s Bill to Support Commercial Fishing in Port Infrastructure Passes House and Senate, Will Become Law
Washington, DC – This week, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle’s (OR-04) “Supporting Commercial Fishing in Port Infrastructure Projects Act” (H.R. 4618) passed both the House and Senate as part of the Maritime Administration (MARAD) Reauthorization Act. President Biden is expected to sign this bill into law.
H.R. 4618 will ensure ports can apply for infrastructure grants that support commercial fishing, bolster jobs, and drive the economies of our coastal communities.
Current law does not make it explicitly clear whether ports can apply for Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grants that support commercial fishing, often leaving it up to interpretation that can overlook our commercial fishing communities who are the backbone of our coastal economies. When signed into law, Rep. Hoyle’s legislation will clarify that ports may apply for federal funding through the Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program for port infrastructure projects which support commercial fishing, and the local jobs and livelihoods that come with it.
“I’m thrilled to pass this important bill into law,” said Rep. Hoyle. “Our ports and our fishermen are the heart of Oregon’s coastal communities. This law will help ports modernize their infrastructure and support the growth and sustainability of our fishing industry, ensuring that this industry can continue generating economic growth, jobs and sustainability in all coastal communities.”
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will provide a record $2.25 billion over five years for the Port Infrastructure Development Program, the largest federal investment ever in our nation’s ports. Rep. Hoyle’s Supporting Commercial Fishing in Port Infrastructure Projects Act states that any secured PIDP funding can be utilized to support “the loading and unloading of commercially harvested fish and fish products, seafood processing, cold storage, and other related infrastructure.”
###