CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN'S "HUDSON RIVER PROTECTION ACT" TO PERMANENTLY ENACT BARGE BAN PASSES THROUGH TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
Congressman Pat Ryan’s “Hudson River Protection Act” to Permanently Enact Barge Ban Passes Through Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Legislation amends the 2020 “Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act” to ban additional anchorages once and for all
WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Congressman Pat Ryan’s “Hudson River Protection Act” passed through the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as part of the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act, teeing up the bill for a vote on the House floor in the coming months. This legislation would amend the 2020 Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act, removing any uncertainty related to geographic definitions (such as the Port of New York) and banning additional anchorages once and for all.
“Getting anything through this Congress is not easy. But we owe it to our kids, our seniors, and future generations to fight tooth and nail to protect our Hudson River and get this bill across the finish line,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “Never again will big corporations be able to turn our Hudson River into a parking lot for dangerous barges. This victory proves that when our community stands up with one voice to demand change, we can accomplish anything.”
“I’m a conservationist and over the span of several decades have championed causes to clean up the Hudson alongside Congressman Pat Ryan, Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson, and other local partners,” said Congressman Molinaro. “With this bipartisan bill, we are taking another step to protect the Hudson and ensuring we are not doing anything that could erase the progress we’ve made.”
“The Hudson River Protection Act will go a long way to preserving the natural beauty of our Hudson Valley communities - something that has been a top priority of mine from day one,” said Congressman Lawler. “I was glad to see the Hudson River Protection Act pass the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as part of the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act. I’m going to continue working with my Hudson Valley neighbors and colleagues Pat Ryan and Marc Molinaro to make sure our crucial legislation becomes law.”
"Riverkeeper is thrilled to see the inclusion of the Hudson River Protection Act within the U.S. Coast Guard Reauthorization. This crucial legislation reflects a significant step forward in safeguarding the Hudson River from the risks of increased anchoring by large vessels in critical habitat areas,” said Drew Gamils, Riverkeeper Staff Attorney. “We thank Congressmen Ryan, Molinaro, and Lawler for prioritizing the concerns of Hudson Valley communities.”
"We are grateful to Congressmen Pat Ryan, Marcus Molinaro, and Michael Lawler for their leadership in including the Hudson River Protection Act in the Coast Guard Reauthorization bill,” said Ned Sullivan, President of Scenic Hudson. “This critical legislation will protect the inspirational beauty, health, and safety of the Hudson and communities along the river. We remain committed to working with our Congressional delegation and Riverkeeper to safeguard the Hudson Valley's drinking water, wildlife, and people now and for generations to come."
On August 4th, Congressman Ryan wrote a letter to Captain Zeita Merchant, the Sector New York Commander for the Coast Guard, requesting clarification on an administrative change that would allow barges to anchor virtually anywhere north of the Governor M. Cuomo Bridge.
After a more than two month delay, Michael Emerson, the Director of Marine Transportation Systems, provided a woefully insufficient response that left the door open for dangerous oil barges to line the Hudson.
On October 25th, Ryan was joined by Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson and the Hudson 7 in demanding the Coast Guard uphold the anchoring ban. On November 1st, Ryan gave a speech on the House Floor, calling on Hudson Valley families to join the fight and sharing a form for those interested to register their opinion. The new MSIB, issued on November 9th in response to overwhelming community outrage, temporarily paused the Coast Guard’s plan to allow dangerous barges to line the Hudson River but doubles down on their plan to allow unlimited anchoring in the future.
The legislation introduced alongside Congressmen Molinaro and Lawler amends the 2020 Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act, effectively banning additional anchorages on the Hudson once and for all.
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