U.S President Joe Biden has signed into law a clarification of the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) that will ensure projects supporting commercial fishing operations can access funding under that program.
The PIDP is a federal program that provides grants to port authorities, states, and local governments for port-related infrastructure projects; however, vague language left it unclear whether PIDP grants could be awarded to commercial fishing projects.
Representative Val Hoyle (D-Oregon) introduced the Supporting Commercial Fishing in Port Infrastructure Projects Act earlier this year to confirm that commercial fishing projects were eligible for grants. That legislation was then incorporated into the Maritime Administration Reauthorization bill, which was signed into law by the president on 22 December 2023 as part of the annual National Defense Authorization Act…