December 15, 2023 9:30 a.m. 

This week 4th District Congresswoman Val Hoyle’s “Supporting Commercial Fishing in Port Infrastructure Projects Act” passed both the House and Senate as part of the Maritime Administration Reauthorization Act.

A release from Hoyle said President Biden is expected to sign the bill into law.

Hoyle said H.R.4618 will ensure ports can apply for infrastructure grants that support commercial fishing, bolster jobs and drive the economies of coastal communities.

Hoyle said current law does not make it explicitly clear whether ports can apply for Port Infrastructure Development Program grants that support commercial fishing, often leaving it up to interpretation that can overlook commercial fishing communities who are the backbone of coastal economies. The release said when signed into law, Hoyle’s legislation will clarify that ports may apply for federal funding through the Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program for port infrastructure which support commercial fishing, and the local jobs and livelihoods that come with it.

Hoyle said, “I’m thrilled to pass this important bill into law”. Hoyle said, “Our ports and our fishermen are the heart of Oregon’s coastal communities. This will help ports modernize their infrastructure and support the growth and stability of our fishing industry, ensuring that this industry can continue generating economic growth, jobs and sustainability in all coastal communities”.

The release said the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will provide a record $2.25 billion over five years for the PIDP program, the largest federal investment ever in the nation’s ports. Hoyle’s legislation states that any secured PIDP funding can be utilized to support “the loading and unloading of commercially harvested fish and fish products, seafood processing, cold storage, and other related infrastructure”.