WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced a package of legislation to strengthen America’s supply chain by cutting red tape around dredging infrastructure. The four bills modernize dredging project and vessel policies to enable resource availability and ensure America remains economically competitive.

“America’s supply chain relies on our ports, which are currently suffocating under century-old red tape,” said Senator Mike Lee. “These bills will free up essential infrastructure and modernize policies to secure America’s economic dominance and unleash American trade.”

Background

The Dredging to Ensure the Empowerment of Ports (DEEP) Act repeals the Foreign Dredge Act of 1906 and streamline key impediments in the Clean Water Act, as well as the Army Corps’ process for considering dredge projects at American ports. | Read the full bill text here.

The Allied Partnership and Port Modernization Act supports more economic opportunities at our ports. It would amend the Foreign Dredge Act of 1906 to allow NATO-affiliated dredging vessels to operate in the United States. | Read the full bill text here.

The Port Modernization and Supply Chain Protection Act repeals the Foreign Dredge Act of 1906’s cabotage requirements and allows all dredge vessels qualified under U.S. law to operate in the United States. | Read the full bill text here.

The Incentivizing the Expansion of U.S. Ports Act amends the Foreign Dredge Act of 1906 to allow Americans to purchase foreign-built dredge vessels for operation in the United States, provided that they are crewed by Americans and flagged under U.S. law. | Read the full bill text here.

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