Legislation

IRPT advocates for the priorities of our members each year in Washington, D.C.

Want to join us for our 2026 Legislative Fly-in? We welcome all IRPT members to come with us. The more man power, the more meetings we can schedule. Click the button below to contact tessakandres@irpt.net for more information!

T&I Committee to Hold Hearing on the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) In-Use Locomotive Regulation

Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Chairman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX) announced that the Subcommittee will hold a hearing to discuss the California Air Resource Board’s (CARB) proposal to establish…
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Permitting Optimization for Responsible Transportation (PORT) Act

HR 7587: Permitting Optimization for Responsible Transportation (PORT) Act passed the House Armed Services Committee is included in the House FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The PORT Act…
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Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on the U.S. Coast Guard’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request

Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Webster (R-FL) announced that the Subcommittee will hold a hearing to receive testimony from the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard…
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Transportation & Infrastructure Hearing: U.S. Coast Guard

On April 30, the Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing on Fiscal Year 2025 Maritime Transportation Budget Requests. You can access a recording…
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Sen. Kelly to propose legislation to strengthen commercial shipping

ARLINGTON, Va. – A U.S. senator is developing legislation meant to revitalize the U.S. commercial maritime industry, which he called an economic and national security imperative. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.,…
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NWC News Alert (Dec. 7, 2022): WRDA 2022 on deck TODAY

  Legislative Update: Courtesy of National Waterways Conference Dec. 7, 2022 You will never guess what was unveiled today on the U.S. House of Representatives Rule’s Committee website-compromise language for…
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FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Releases Permitting Action Plan to Accelerate and Deliver Infrastructure Projects On Time, On Task, and On Budget

FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Releases Permitting Action Plan to Accelerate and Deliver Infrastructure Projects on Time, On Task, and On Budget MAY 11, 2022 | Whitehouse STATEMENTS AND RELEASES The Bipartisan…
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Senator Wicker Inquires on DOT Data Sharing Initiative for Freight Transportation 

  Wicker Inquires on DOT Data Sharing Initiative for Freight Transportation    April 20, 2022 | U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking…
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DOT Lays Out Actions to Strengthen Supply Chains and Revitalize the Economy 

DOT Lays Out Actions to Strengthen Supply Chains and Revitalize the Economy  Thursday, February 24, 2022 (full link below) Today, on the one-year anniversary of President’s Executive Order on Supply…
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President Biden and U.S. Department of Transportation Announce Historic New Funding to Strengthen Port Infrastructure and Supply Chain Resiliency

President Biden and U.S. Department of Transportation Announce Historic New Funding to Strengthen Port Infrastructure and Supply Chain Resiliency   Wednesday, February 23, 2022 Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure…
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IRPT Members who offer Government Affairs Services:

Jones Walker LLP

Ice Miller LP

Matsuda & Associates LLC

Legislation matters because the inland river transportation system—vital to America’s economy, environment, and security—is often misunderstood and undervalued. Federal agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Coast Guard, Department of Transportation, and others carry out their missions according to the legislative direction set forth by Congress through acts like the Water Resources Development Act, the Farm Bill, and the Energy and Water Development Bill.

An integrated, comprehensive, and collaborative approach to inland river transportation legislation, development, and protection is critical to ensuring environmentally sound and efficient use of our nation’s waterways. A balanced approach that recognizes the importance of inland river transportation in promoting sustainable economic development and national security will strengthen our infrastructure and improve the quality of life for all Americans.

IRPT Legislative Committee

 

On February 15, 2021 Inland Rivers, Ports and Terminals Board of Directors voted to adopt a new IRPT Legislative Committee.

The IRPT Legislative Committee brings together IRPT Members that have the like-minded vision and passion to make recommendations to Congress and Federal Agencies that focus on maritime transportation in order to strongly advocate for common legislative objectives that affect inland interests and to support the inland river transportation system.

Join us in Washington DC for the 2025 IRPT Spring Legislative Trip! Contact Aimee Andres at aandres@irpt.net for more information.

IRPT has successfully built relationships with many lawmakers in Washington with the passage of legislation to provide funding opportunities for inland and small coastal ports and terminals.

If you have served on IRPT’s Board of Directors, you are familiar with our handling of such events, in that IRPT will schedule all of the Congressional visits, prepare your itinerary (not including travel) and materials for dissemination and much more.

IRPT Members interested in serving on the legislative committee should email Aimee Andres at aandres@irpt.net.