Press Releases

For Immediate Release                                          Contact: Tionee Scotland
March 6, 2025                                                           202-808-6129

PRESS RELEASE

PLASKETT REINTRODUCES BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO HELP SMALL PORTS ACCESS INFRASTRUCTURE LOANS AND GRANTS

Washington, D.C. – This week, Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (D-VI-AL) and her colleague, Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL-1), reintroduced bipartisan legislation which requires the Department of Agriculture to give federal funding priority to projects for small ports in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and nationwide, to improve broadband internet coverage.

“The Broadband Internet for Small Ports Act recognizes the importance of small ports to their rural economies as hubs for commerce, tourism and community development. In rural, coastal areas, people congregate near inland and small ports. These harbors act as key economic engines for not just their local communities but their broader regions. This bill helps small ports nationwide obtain federal grants and loans to improve their broadband internet coverage, enables working waterfronts to keep pace with the needs of 21st century trade and improves workplace safety. Increased broadband internet coverage gives small ports a better chance to compete in an ever-changing marketplace and better serve the communities that depend on them,” stated Congresswoman Plaskett.

Congressman Moore shared, “Rural communities across the nation continue to deal with a lack of high-speed internet access. In Alabama, this lack of access extends to our small ports. I am proud to work with Congresswoman Plaskett to bring access to federal assistance through the Broadband Internet for Small Ports Act, which will improve broadband coverage for the centers of economic activity in our nation, our small and rural ports.”

Congresswoman Plaskett also stated, “In rural, coastal areas, these harbors act as hubs for commerce and tourism. I am thankful to my colleague, Congressman Barry Moore, for his partnership in leading this legislation which will support small ports nationwide get federal loans and grants and improve their broadband coverage, thereby enabling working-waterfronts to order inventory and coordinate deliveries, access real-time weather updates and grow economically. The reintroduction of this bill is one step in the legislative process. Legislation does not become law until passed by the House, passed by the Senate, then signed by the President. I am hopeful this measure will be considered by the full House in short order, and my team and I will be working to have companion measures considered by the Senate.”

Background:

Broadband loan and grant applications submitted to the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utility Service (RUS) are assigned different levels of priority before they are awarded. This bill recognizes the importance of small ports to their rural economies, and elevates the priority of applications seeking to boost broadband internet capacity for small ports transiting less than 1 million tons of cargo annually. Broadband loan and grant applications from small ports will be considered equal in priority to applications that are developed with the participation of a non-profit or philanthropic organization. In rural America, small ports often support communities as well as improve commerce and safety. Broadband internet is equally valuable for coastal fishing communities and inland barge grain-shipments. Additionally, Army Corp dredging activities can use local broadband to operate with greater precision and efficiency.

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