AAPA Supports House Appropriations Bill with $538 Million for Port Infrastructure Development

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) commends the the House Committee on Appropriations for its release today of the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) bill. The legislation contains a record $538 million appropriation for the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). With the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) set to expire this year, consistent levels of funding for PIDP are under threat. If enacted, this legislation would give the port industry the funding it needs to revitalize the American maritime industry and move the cargo on which American families and businesses rely.

"On behalf of America's ports, I want to issue my strong support for the House Appropriations Committee's FY27 THUD bill," stated Sang Yi, AAPA President & CEO. "PIDP is the sole source of federal funding exclusively available for port freight infrastructure, and it is vitally important that it receives stable and robust appropriations. The $538 million for PIDP included in this legislation is the most ever included in an annual appropriations bill, and I urge Congress to swiftly pass this legislation. AAPA thanks Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK-4) and THUD Subcommittee Chairman Steve Womack (R-AR-3) for their support for America's ports."

The appropriations bill comes on the heels of a series of strong signals of support for the port industry from the U.S. Government. In April, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced $774 million in PIDP awards, a record level of awards for a single year, which included IIJA funds. The White House also released its long-anticipated Maritime Action Plan, which included a call for expanded funding for PIDP. With this cascade of support for PIDP, ports have never been so highly prioritized in Washington, D.C.

The Senate Appropriations Committee, however, must still introduce its version of the FY27 THUD bill, Congress must agree on a single version, and the President must sign it before the $538 million for our port industry becomes available. With the midterm elections looming, Congress may instead pass a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) that pushes decisions on FY27 spending to calendar year 2027. With the upcoming expiration of IIJA, it is critical that funding for PIDP be made law without delay.

Also included in the legislation is $550 million for the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program, $523 million for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program, $40 million for the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), $7 million for the United States Marine Highway Program, and $5 million for the Department of Transportation Office for Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy. All are programs critically important to the port industry.