On February 15, 2021 Inland Rivers, Ports and Terminals Board of Directors voted to adopt a new IRPT Legislative Committee.

The IRPT Legislative Committee brings together IRPT Members that have the like-minded vision and passion to make recommendations to Congress and Federal Agencies that focus on maritime transportation in order to strongly advocate for common legislative objectives that affect inland interests and to support the inland river transportation system.

Our first meeting was held via zoom meeting on April 6, 2021 at 10:00 am central time to discuss:

• IRPT’s vision for this committee;
• Ask for volunteer assignments;
• Plan an in-person event in Washington.

IRPT had been building its relationships with many lawmakers in Washington during our successful attempt at passing legislation to provide funding opportunities for inland and small coastal ports and terminals. Immediately following that, COVID hit and as you may have experienced, it has been quite difficult to connect with lawmakers to propel additional initiatives forward. Now that restrictions have loosened in Washington and many conversations are taking place about certain pieces of legislation that affect inland river transportation and the ports and terminals that use them, this is an excellent opportunity to reconnect and hit the hill.

The IRPT Legislative Committee Members plan to make their first in-person visit to Washington in March 2023.

If you have served on IRPT’s Board of Directors, you are familiar with our handling of such events, in that IRPT will schedule all of the Congressional visits, prepare your itinerary (not including travel) and materials for dissemination and much more.

Our current roster of IRPT’s Legislative Committee includes:

• Anthony Gex, IRPT President, River Bend Transport
• Jim Kearns, IRPT Secretary/Treasurer, Jones Walker
• Molly Bourgoyne, IRPT Board Member, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
• Dave Riggs, IRPT Board Member, Watco
• Mary Ann Bucci, Port of Pittsburgh

IRPT Members interested in serving should email Aimee Andres at aandres@irpt.net.

IRPT Legislative Caucus Initiatives

• Creation of Inland River Transportation Caucus within the U.S. Congress