Ports-to-Forts Act of 2012 - Directs the Administrator of the Maritime Administration to make grants to states or port authorities to cover the direct or indirect costs for repair or construction of: (1) commercial strategic seaports; or (2) bridges, roads, rail systems, and other infrastructure near such seaports.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6253 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6253
To authorize the Maritime Administrator to make grants to States or
port authorities to cover the cost of repair and construction
activities relating to certain commercial strategic seaports, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 1, 2012
Ms. Richardson introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Maritime Administrator to make grants to States or
port authorities to cover the cost of repair and construction
activities relating to certain commercial strategic seaports, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Ports-to-Forts Act of 2012''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Seaports serve vital national interests by supporting
the mobilization and deployment of United States troops,
facilitating the flow of trade, and creating jobs.
(2) The Commercial Strategic Seaport Grant Program is
designed to facilitate the movement of military forces securely
through United States seaports with minimal disruptions to
commerce.
(3) The exponential growth of commercial cargo over the
past 20 years has generated concern over the potential for
conflict between military and commercial needs and about the
future adequacy of the commercial strategic seaport
infrastructure to meet national security requirements.
(4) The existing infrastructure at seaports may not be
readily available when required by the Department of Defense.
SEC. 3. COMMERCIAL STRATEGIC SEAPORT GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Maritime Administrator, subject to the
availability of appropriations, may make a grant to a State or port
authority to assist that State or port authority to conduct repair or
construction activities relating to a commercial strategic seaport.
(b) Application.--
(1) In general.--To be eligible for a grant under this
section, a State or port authority shall submit to the
Administrator, by not later than 1 year after publication of
notice under paragraph (2), an application in such form and
containing such information as the Administrator may require.
The application shall include, at a minimum, a certification
that any grant funds received by the State or port authority
shall be used only as provided under subsection (c).
(2) Notice.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall, in the Federal
Register, publish notice that applications are being accepted
for grants under subsection (a).
(3) Application acceptability.--If the Administrator
determines that an application received under paragraph (1) is
incomplete or unacceptable, the Administrator shall--
(A) reject the application; and
(B) advise the State or port authority that
submitted the application of the reasons for the
rejection.
(4) Reapplication.--If the Administrator rejects a State's
or port authority's application under paragraph (1), that State
or port authority may submit an additional application under
that paragraph not later than the end of the 1-year application
period established under that paragraph.
(c) Use of Funds.--
(1) State.--A State that receives a grant under subsection
(a) may only use funds from such grant for direct or indirect
costs of repair or construction activities relating to--
(A) a commercial strategic seaport; or
(B) bridges, roads, rail systems, and other
infrastructure in the vicinity of such seaport.
(2) Port authority.--A port authority that receives a grant
under subsection (a) may only use funds from such grant for
direct or indirect costs of repair or construction activities
relating to infrastructure that is part of the commercial
strategic seaport.
(d) Reporting Requirement.--Not later than 1 year after the date on
which a State or port authority receives a grant under subsection (a),
and annually thereafter until all repair or construction activities to
be carried out under the grant are completed, the State or port
authority shall submit a report to the Administrator that includes--
(1) a description of the progress made with respect to such
activities; and
(2) a detailed list of all expenses related to such
activities.
(e) Authorization of Use of Department of Defense Appropriations.--
Such sums as are necessary to carry out this section may be used by the
Maritime Administrator from any amounts otherwise appropriated for the
Department of Defense after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Commercial strategic seaport.--The term ``commercial
strategic seaport'' means a port (including bridges, roads,
rail systems, and other infrastructure that is part of the
port) that the Secretary of Defense has determined to be vital
to the readiness and cargo throughput capacity of the
Department of Defense.
(2) Port authority.--The term ``port authority'' means a
local port authority with jurisdiction over a commercial
strategic seaport.
(3) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several
States of the United States and Guam.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces.
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