For the second year in a row, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) has led an effort to raise awareness regarding the challenges facing small ports. Last week, the Senator and twelve of his colleagues, including Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), sent a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee highlighting the continued lack of funding designated for maintaining small ports in Oregon and throughout the country. The letter was in response to the noticeable omission of small port funding in the Administration's FY2014 budget released on April 10^th, and requests that Appropriators consider the many benefits small ports provide to the nation as they prepare the Senate version of the Corps funding bill later this year.

This is the third year in a row that small ports in the region and throughout the country have been substantially underfunded in the Administration's budget. When earmarks were available as a tool, Members of Congress could address this issue on an individual project basis in the appropriations process. With the ban on earmarks, Congress provided additional national pots of funding in FY2012, with directions for the Corps to develop work plans to spend the extra monies. Congress pursued this approach again in their FY2013 bills. However, with the continuing resolution (CR) passed for the remainder of the year, these additional monies were not designated for any specific type of project. The Corps' work plan for the remainder of FY2013 is expected to be released shortly, and PNWA will report on Northwest navigation project funding at that time.

In FY2014, PNWA will again be advocating for an additional funding pot of at least $30M for small ports, for which our projects may compete. The entire Northwest delegation has been very supportive of small ports over the years. We look forward to working with our Members of Congress again this year, to advocate for the highest level of funding for our navigation projects.

• Improve existing transportation facilities and systems;
• Contribute to American economic competitiveness;
• Create and preserve jobs;
• Increase transportation choices and access to transportation services for people in communities across the U.S.;
• Improve energy efficiency, reduce dependence on oil, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and
• Improve safety.

$474M will be available in this round. For more information, log onto http://www.dot.gov/tiger.

Last week, Northwest Ag Information Network featured a two-part online interview and radio broadcast with PNWA Executive Director Kristin Meira and reporter Kaydee Gilkey. The interview was part of the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report, and highlighted the President's FY2014 proposed funding levels for dredging on the Lower Columbia and Snake Rivers, and for the locks and dams on the inland Columbia Snake River System. The interview also highlighted the $1M in new start funding proposed by the Administration to begin the major rehab of the jetties at the Mouth of the Columbia River. Click the following links to hear part one and part two of the report. For a comprehensive overview of Northwest navigation projects in the President's FY2014 budget, click here.

PNWA Summer Conference

June 24th-26th, 2013

Conference at Maple Hall 

Lodging at La Conner Channel Lodge & Country Inn 

Registration fee: $360 before June 3rd ($385 after June 3rd)

Registration for this event opens on Monday, April 15th. You can register by clicking here or by calling (503) 234-8550.

This year's event will be located in beautiful La Conner, Washington. The conference will take place at Maple Hall. For lodging, PNWA has negotiated discounted room rates at the La Conner Channel Lodge and Country Inn. These rates will be offered until June 3rd on a first come, first served basis. To make your hotel reservation at the discounted rate, please call 1-888-466-4113.

We need your sponsorship to make this event the best yet! If you are interested in sponsorship, please click here for more information or contact Natalie Whitlock. Sponsors receive ample recognition throughout the event as well as our website and newsletter. Thank you for your support.

We look forward to seeing you there!