July 14, 2023 3:20 a.m.

On Thursday, Congresswoman Val Hoyle introduced legislation to ensure ports can apply for infrastructure grants that support commercial fishing, bolster jobs and drive the economies of coastal communities in Oregon.

A release from Hoyle’s office said current law does not make it explicitly clear whether ports can apply for Port Infrastructure Development Program grants that support commercial fishing. Hoyle said that often leaves it up for interpretation that can overlook commercial fishing communities which are the backbone of the coastal communities. The release said Hoyle’s legislation would clarify that ports may apply for federal funding through the Maritime Administration’s PIDP for port infrastructure projects which support commercial fishing and all the jobs that comes with it.

Hoyle said, “Prior to the pandemic, Oregon’s commercial fisheries generated an estimated $558 million in income for Oregon’s economy – I’d like to see us get back there”. Hoyle said, “We need to clear any red tape to ensure federal funding can help our commercial fishing industry. My legislation makes it clear that every one of Oregon’s ports should have the ability to apply for federal infrastructure funding that supports commercial fishing”.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will provide a record $2.25 billion over five years for the Port Infrastructure Development Program, the largest federal investment ever in the nation’s ports. Hoyle’s Supporting Commercial Fishing in Port Infrastructure Projects Act states that any secured PIDP funding can be utilized to support, “the loading and unloading of commercially harvested fish and fish projects”.