Hoosier State Today

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) has collaborated with a bipartisan Senate group to propose legislation designed to ensure that Great Lakes ports gain a fair portion of the federal funding available for port infrastructure development. According to available data, from 2019 to 2024, Great Lakes ports received a mere two percent of Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) awards. During the same period, Gulf Coast ports received as little as six percent, whereas ports along the East and West Coasts were allocated nearly 70 percent of the PIDP funds.

The proposed legislation, known as the Securing Smart Investments in Our Ports Act, seeks to rectify this discrepancy by instructing the Maritime Administration to consider fair regional distribution when awarding PIDP grants.

Discussing the significance of the bill, Senator Young stated, "Indiana’s ports are critical to our state’s economy and connect Hoosier businesses and farmers to the world. This bill will better ensure ports in the Great Lakes region have access to existing programs meant to improve their infrastructure, safety, and efficiency."

The PIDP is a competitive grant program managed by the Maritime Administration to enhance the safety, efficiency, and reliability of U.S. ports. This may involve investments in dock reconstruction, improved transportation route access, and expanded storage capacity.

Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) joined Senator Young in introducing this piece of legislation.