The legislation was proposed in August 2013 by U.S. senators Patty Murray and
Maria Cantwell, both Washington state Democrats. They say the problem with the
current Harbor Maintenance Tax, which is levied on imports and funds the
operation and maintenance of seaports throughout the US, is not being fully
collected.
Shippers can avoid paying the tax by shipping goods through
other ports in Canada and Mexico and then transporting those goods into our
country via truck and rail.
But the senators say they have a solution to the problem.
Their bill would repeal the Harbor Maintenance Tax and replace it with the
Maritime Goods Movement User Fee, the proceeds of which would be used for port
operation and maintenance.
The senators say the fee would nearly double the amount of
funds available for American ports by ensuring that shippers cannot avoid the fee
by using ports in Canada and Mexico. In a Sept. 17 statement, the Port of
Seattle expressed strong support for the bill.
“The Port of Seattle applauds Senator Murray and Senator
Cantwell for being strong champions for our nation’s ports by sponsoring the
Maritime Goods Movement Act,” the statement reads in part. “The bill
significantly increases investments in America’s maritime and freight
infrastructure system.”
The legislation would also set aside a portion of the user fee
for critical low-use ports that are at a competitive disadvantage for federal
funding, and create a grant program using a percentage of the collected user
fees to improve the U.S. intermodal transportation system.
“By leveling the playing field and encouraging competition,
this legislation could preserve 10,000 jobs between Seattle and Tacoma alone,”
the Port of Seattle said in its statement. “The bill deserves serious
consideration among stakeholders and the Port of Seattle will look for ways to
build support for the proposal.”
The ports of Tacoma, Grays Harbor and Vancouver, Washington
have also endorsed the legislation, according to the senators, as have the
Pacific Northwest Waterways Association and the Washington Council on
International Trade.
