Last week United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg visited Los Angeles County. Supervisor Hilda Solis, Supervisor Janice Hahn, Mayor Robert Garcia, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Congresswoman Nanette Barragan, Congressmen Ted Lieu, and Congressman Alan Lowenthal toured the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach with him and emphasized the importance of investing in our nation’s largest port complex.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law should provide $450 million annually in funding for ports through the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). The Port of Long Beach was awarded $52,300,000.

President Biden signed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law on November 15, 2021. The Administration is now focusing its efforts on implementing the law. However, implementation is limited primarily to formula fund programs while lawmakers in Congress work on an appropriations package. As a region, we must advocate for our fair share of funding from the State. Below are some important updates to be aware of.

Mitch Landrieu is Appointed Senior Adviser and Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator

On November 15, 2021 President Biden appointed Mitch Landrieu as the Senior Adviser and Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator. He also signed an Executive Order that outlined the Administration’s priorities and established an Infrastructure Task Force.

Apportionments

• Federal-Aid Highway Program Funds
• Bridge Formula Funds
• Airport Allocations
• Environmental Protection Agency State Revolving Funds

Additional guidance on financial oversight and reporting, labor, Made in America/Buy America, equity, climate and resilience, and environmental justice is expected to be released by the Administration later this month.  The Administration will also soon be issuing a guidebook to help recipients of federal funds better understand key information about all of the available sources of funding.

The many streams of federal funding that will soon be available is more than we have seen in generations, and Los Angeles County and its regional partners should be preparing now for implementation of this funding.