WASHINGTON, DC – Legislation written by Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) to reduce congestion on America’s roads and to reauthorize the Maritime Administration (MARAD) passed the Senate late yesterday as part of the final version of the FY 2010 Defense Department Authorization Act.  The legislation, which will create a grant program for ‘America’s Marine Highways’ to encourage shipping by sea or inland waterway and establish a new program to modernize port facilities, is expected to be signed by the President.
              
    “The strength of our freight transportation system is threatened by overwhelmed roads, bridges and tunnels – and the simple, smart solution is to ship more of America’s goods by sea,” said Sen. Lautenberg, who chairs the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security.  “Shipping by barge reduces congestion on roads, improves safety, and cuts emissions and energy consumption.  America’s ability to ship goods more efficiently and compete in the global market will improve dramatically with the enhanced use of marine highways.” 
 
    Lautenberg’s bill, the Maritime Administration Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2010, will create a grant program to establish America’s Marine Highway as an extension of the surface transportation system.  A single sea vessel can take more than 450 trucks off the nation’s roads.  The typical barge or ship can move one ton of cargo 576 miles on one gallon of fuel, whereas a truck would move that same cargo only 155 miles.
 
    The bill will also establish a Port Infrastructure Development Program for local jurisdictions and port facilities to improve the capabilities of their port facilities.  America’s sea ports are the critical link between all modes of transportation and the ability to move freight throughout the country.  Ships carry more than 95 percent of the nation's non-North American trade by weight and 75 percent by value.  In addition, approximately three-quarters of international shipments to and from the United States, measured in weight, arrive or depart by ship.
 
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