“ Federal support for and investment in clean energy infrastructure at US ports , including via tax incentives , can help ensure the world ’ s newest and greenest vessels are assigned to serve American ports .”

Joe Kramek

with such colossal impact on our economy and our communities can sometimes be politically sensitive . That is why the development and recommendation of a USACE project for Congressional authorization follows an extensive public planning process which ensures it is economically justified , environmentally acceptable and technically feasible . Since 1943 , there have been executive orders ( EOs ) outlining requirements to ensure consistency with executive branch policies and other relevant requirements . The latest EO in place today was issued in 1981 and requires that before any USACE report , proposal or planning document is submitted to Congress , it is provided to the Office of Management and Budget ( OMB ) for approval . But over the last decade , OMB has broadened its interpretation to withhold nearly all information , including outyear funding needs and other information critical to Congressional decision-makers .

Mislabeling factual project information as “ budget sensitive ” has devastating impacts on the USACE ’ s relationships with its partners and the public . The lack of objective information coupled with inconsistent communication has eroded trust in the USACE ’ s ability to execute projects effectively . In a time when completing a single project takes decades and cost overruns grow , America cannot afford

unnecessary bureaucracy . It is time for a new administration to revisit EO No . 12322 and address unnecessary hurdles that delay the economic benefits our nation needs .

World Shipping Council

Joe Kramek

President and CEO www . worldshipping . org

The World Shipping Council sees several ways the federal government can shore up freight infrastructure .

Build more resiliency into the supply chain to prepare for inevitable future disruptions such as pandemics , strikes , weather , geopolitical tensions and other events that can impact global supply chains at any time . This could include stepped-up federal support for port infrastructure improvements , expanded inland transport capacity and more secure supply chains . The shipping industry ’ s decades of investment in capacity was what enabled the sector to serve a surge of demand during COVID-19 and quickly reroute lines away from the Red Sea during

attacks on private shipping there — without this extra capacity and carriers ’ willingness and ability to quickly adjust , the impacts would have been much worse .

Increase federal funding for research and development in new technologies , protocols and systems for shoring up freight infrastructure , whether by the private or public sector or both in partnership . This increased R & D funding could be deployed through the Departments of Transportation and Energy and their constituent agencies , the National Institute of Standards and Technology , US Navy , the 45 federally funded R & D centers or many other entities .

Support the infrastructure that will be required for shipping to continue and accelerate its transition to no- and low-greenhouse gas fuels , such as methanol , ammonia , hydrogen and others . Carriers already are investing billions in renewable-fuel vessels , with more than 500 scheduled to be operating globally by 2028 . Federal support for and investment in clean energy infrastructure at US ports , including via tax incentives , can help ensure the world ’ s newest and greenest vessels are assigned to serve American ports — creating jobs , investment and reduced emissions that improve health and quality of life for residents of communities near ports .