The Pacific Northwest Waterways Association has named Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) as its 2022 Legislator of the Year.
“We are so pleased to recognize the Senator for her steadfast support of freight mobility, maritime and multi-modal infrastructure investment, and efforts to secure federal funding for salmon recovery throughout the Pacific Northwest,” the PNWA said in a Sept. 14 statement.
“She has supported a number of regional projects to drive our economy, including improvements and maintenance of our small harbors and jetties, the Washington Coast and Puget Sound, and the deep draft and inland Columbia Snake River System,” the statement continued.
The Waterways Association said that Cantwell was a key member in Congress working in partnership with its delegation to drive passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which the PNWA has called “a transformational investment in our nation’s infrastructure.”
Cantwell authored the Megaprojects section of the legislation and dedicated $5 billion for the program with projects like the I-5 Bridge Replacement and the U.S. 2 Trestle Replacement in Everett in mind.
She also supported investments in the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure Safety Improvements (CRISI) program, Airport Improvement Program (AIP), the Port Infrastructure Development Program, MARAD’s America’s Marine Highway Program, and a 05% increase to the Rebuilding America’s Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program.
Additionally, she supported strengthening the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) through passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) and led the charge to appoint a Pacific Northwest member to the Commission.
“For these reasons and many more, PNWA is pleased to announce Sen. Maria Cantwell as the recipient of this award,” the PNWA said, adding that it hopes to recognize her at the organization’s 2022 annual convention in October, but that it may be delayed due to the congressional schedule.
PNWA has stated that it plans to alert its members as soon as a date is finalized to honor Cantwell in person.
The Pacific Northwest Waterways Association is a non-profit, non-partisan trade association that advocates for federal policies and funding in support of regional economic development. It is a collaboration of ports, businesses and public agencies who combine their economic and political strength in support of navigation, energy, trade and economic development throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Founded in 1934, the organization’s membership has grown to include over 150 entities.