AAPA encouraged and disappointed over US port funding

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) has expressed both encouragement and disappointment over the funding levels and changes in federal port-related programmes proposed in President Obama’s FY 2015 budget.

While the proposal included funding for a new National Infrastructure Investment programme, it also decreased funding for the Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) modernisation and maintenance for seaports, eliminating the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grant programme.

It also continues to call for the elimination of the Port Security Grant Programme, replacing it and other state and local programmes with a National Preparedness Grant Programme to be managed by the states.