2012 -- S 2439

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LC01716

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING CONGRESS TO DESIGNATE THE PORTS OF RHODE

ISLAND AS DESTINATION PORTS AS PART OF THE CURRENT PLANNING AND

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MARINE HIGHWAY SHIPPING PROGRAM

     Introduced By: Senators Sheehan, Walaska, Bates, Goodwin, and Ruggerio

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2012

     Referred To: Senate Corporations

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     WHEREAS, United States Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has identified 18

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marine corridor, and designated six initiatives for further development as part of “America’s

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Marine Highway Program”; and

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     WHEREAS, These all-water routes consist of 11 corridors that can serve as extensions of

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the U.S. surface transportation system; and

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     WHEREAS, These corridors identify routes where water transportation presents an

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opportunity to offer relief from landside traffic congestion, excessive air emissions, and other

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environmental concerns or other challenges; and

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     WHEREAS, In these corridors, United States Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has

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designated six “Marine Highway Initiatives” for further development, including the nearby Port

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of New Bedford; and

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     WHEREAS, These Marine Highway Initiatives will receive support from the Department

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of Transportation in the form of assistance in further developing the concepts through research,

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market analysis, and other efforts to identify opportunities; and

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     WHEREAS, These projects will help start new businesses and expand existing ones. The

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result will be more freight moving along America’s coastlines, reduction in air pollution and

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traffic congestion along surface corridors, and jobs for skilled mariners, shipbuilders, and

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individuals in other port-related industries; and

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     WHEREAS, In 2009, the Rhode Island General Assembly established a Special

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Legislative Commission to Study Potential Economic Opportunities in the Development of Port

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Facilities in Rhode Island, known as the “Port Commission,” and charged it with studying Rhode

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Island’s Port-related economy, with the intent of making specific recommendations to better

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utilize Rhode Island’s coastal resources and unique geographic location to create employment

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opportunities for Rhode Islanders during the worst economic downturn since the Great

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Depression; and

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     WHEREAS, After completing three years of study, including 11 meetings, numerous

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visits to each and every commercial port in Rhode Island, and over 40 hours of expert testimony

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from 25 maritime witnesses, the Commission has learned that:

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     (a) The Port of Providence has received a $10.5 million TIGER grant that will purchase

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and install two high performance harbor cranes which will enhance the port’s ability to continue

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its existing bulk material operations, while expanding its capabilities to accommodate container

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operations; and

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     (b) The Port of Davisville also received a $22.3 million TIGER grant that will fund pier

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and structural improvements, install railroad track, ballast, and ties in the Pier 2 area, as well as

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purchase a port crane; and

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     (c) These capital investments enable both facilities to better accommodate Marine

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Highway cargo shipments; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby requests that our federal delegation become further involved as the U.S. Department of

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Transportation works towards implementation of the Marine Highway Shipping Program, to

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ensure that the U.S. Maritime Administration designates the Ports of Davisville and Providence

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as participants, thus yielding additional federal funding and creating new jobs; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the members of Rhode Island’s Congressional

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Delegation.

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LC01716

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