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PNWA Urges U.S. Trade Officials to Reconsider Proposed Fees
The Pacific Northwest Waterways Association (PNWA) respectfully urges the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to reconsider its proposed tariffs aimed at countering Chinese dominance in global shipbuilding. Instead of broad, sweeping measures, we recommend a more strategic approach that minimizes unintended economic consequences. As currently formulated, the proposed tariffs will raise costs for businesses and consumers, divert cargo to Canadian and Mexican ports, fail to reduce international shipping’s reliance on Chinese shipyards, and harm U.S. exports, especially agricultural products.
Of particular concern to PNWA members is the impact on coastal and inland ports throughout the Pacific Northwest. By imposing fees on each port call, the proposal would incentivize ocean carriers to concentrate traffic at the nation’s largest ports, sidelining the dozens of small and medium-sized ports in our area. This shift would disrupt supply chains, leading to congestion and causing economic harm to smaller ports, including secondary inland ports along the Columbia Snake River system as far inland as Lewiston, Idaho.
President Trump Nominates Adam Telle for ASA-CW
On March 24, President Trump nominated Adam Telle to be the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASA-CW). If confirmed, he will succeed Michael Connor in leading the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. For the ASA-CW position, the nomination is referred to the Committee on Armed Services and then the Committee on Environment and Public Works. The next step in the nomination process is a committee hearing for the nominee to answer questions from Senators and then a vote is held on whether or not to confirm the nominee. PNWA looks forward to working with Telle, if confirmed, to continue advocating for the navigation infrastructure priorities of our region and the projects of our members.
Telle has approximately 20 years of Capitol Hill experience beginning as a legislative correspondent for Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) and working his way up from legislative assistant to Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS). He was a fellow for the Stennis Center for Public Service Leadership Program. He also served as clerk for Senator John Boozman (R-AZ) and later Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) on the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Prior to joining Senator Bill Hagerty’s (R-TN) office as a chief advisor and later promoted to chief of staff, Adam Telle served as a Special Assistant to the Trump Administration’s Senate legislative affairs office. He managed the national security and appropriations work for the office. Telle was appointed to be a member of the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) in 2020. Senator Bill Hagerty commented on X that, “Adam will do a terrific job leading the Corps as it harnesses America’s ports and waterways, prevents natural disasters, rebuilds our infrastructure, and serves as the nation’s ‘utility player’ when Americans need it most.”
Adam Telle is a native of Northport, Alabama and a graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. He married his wife, Shelby Begany Telle, in 2017.
Retired U.S. Navy Captain Brent Sadler Nominated to Lead MARAD
On March 24, President Trump nominated retired U.S. Navy Captain Brent Sadler to be the Maritime Administration (MARAD) Administrator. His 26 year naval career spanned operational tours on nuclear powered submarines, staffing and advising Defense Department officials, several military diplomacy posts in Asia, and was in the China branch of the Navy staff at the Pentagon. According to the biography on the Heritage Foundation’s website, Sadler is a senior research fellow for Naval Warfare and Advanced Technology at the Allison Center for National Security.
He is a 1994 graduate with honors from the United States Naval Academy. Sadler has a Master of Science from the National War College and a Master of Arts from Jochi University in Tokyo, Japan. He is also the author of the book, “U.S. Naval Power in the 21st Century.”
The nomination has been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. In our region, Senator Maria Cantwell (D, WA) is the ranking member of the committee.
Dr. Neil Jacobs Nominated to Lead NOAA
On February 3, President Trump nominated Dr. Neil Jacobs to be the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The responsibilities of NOAA include studying and monitoring the ocean and atmosphere, weather-forecasting efforts at the National Weather Service, managing ocean fisheries and marine monuments. The nomination was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. In our region, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) is the Ranking Member on the committee.
As an atmospheric scientist, Dr. Jacobs led the agency as the Acting Administrator during the previous Trump Administration. His nomination to lead the agency during the second Trump Administration could face some opposition given his prior citation for misconduct for his role in the “Sharpiegate” incident.
Dr. Jacobs has a Bachelors degree in math and physics from the University of South Carolina and his masters and PhD in atmospheric science from North Carolina University. He has served in organizations including the American Meteorological Society and the World Meteorological Organization. He is originally from Colorado, has two children and worked as the Chief Atmospheric Scientist at Panasonic Avionics Corporation.
2025 Summer Conference
This June, PNWA is heading to the beautiful Bellingham Bay area to the Hotel Bellwether, Bellingham, WA for our 2025 Conference!
This event is a favorite among our members, providing an opportunity to touch base mid-year with your colleagues from around the region. Our agenda will feature experts presenting on a range of timely issues and projects. We’re also planning some fun activities you won’t want to miss! Featured speakers and information about the agenda will be announced in the coming weeks.
Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Update
On March 12, 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced issuance of joint guidance on the revised definition of WOTUS that complies with the Supreme Court’s Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency case and clarifies the term “continuous surface connection”.
For Clean Water Act jurisdiction determination, the wetland must:
- Be adjacent to a body of water that is a water of the United States (“which generally means traditional navigable waters, or a relatively permanent body of water connected to a traditional navigable water); and
- Have a “continuous surface connection to a requisite covered water making it difficult to determine where the water ends and wetland begins”.
Listening sessions will be held in late March-April timeframe and registration information for the listening sessions will be posted on the EPA’s website.
To learn more about WOTUS, click here.
To read the WOTUS guidance, click here.
To read the Federal Register notice, click here.
Maritime Legislation Passed Out of Committee
On April 2, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the Maritime Supply Chain Security Act (H.R. 2390), the Secure Our Ports Act of 2025 (ANS to H.R. 252), and the American Cargo for American Ships Act (H.R. 2035).
The Maritime Supply Chain Security Act provides authority for ports to use MARAD’s Port Infrastructure Development (PIDP) grant program to replace Chinese crane hardware and software.
The Secure Our Ports Act makes it unlawful for U.S. port facilities that are subject to security plans to sign contracts for owning, leasing, or operation of U.S. port facilities by some foreign entities, including state-owned enterprises of China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
The American Cargo for American Ships Act requires 100% of U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) cargo that is procured, provided, or financed by the DOT to be transported on U.S. owned, privately operated commercial vessels. This is similar to Department of Defense policy already in place.
The bills have passed out of committee and will proceed to the full House of Representatives next.
To watch the committee mark up, click here.
Chavez-DeRemer Sworn In As Secretary of Labor
President Trump nominated former Oregon Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer to be the Secretary of Labor on November 22, 2024. On March 10, the U.S. Senate voted 67-32 in favor of confirming Lori Chavez-DeRemer to be the U.S. Secretary of Labor. She was sworn in on March 11. The Department of Labor implements the Administration priorities that influence wages, unionization, practices for health and safety, and the rights to fire employees by employers.
Chavez-DeRemer has a Bachelor of Business Administration from California State University Fresno. She and her husband have a small business and twin daughters. Prior to serving as Secretary of Labor, Chavez-DeRemer served in other public roles including the U.S. Representative for Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, the Mayor of Happy Valley, Happy Valley City Council, and a member of the Happy Valley Parks Committee.
Explore the PNWA UPDATED Fact Sheets
Did you know we have a library of fact sheets packed with valuable data on various regions of the Pacific Northwest? We’ve recently updated them with the latest information, ensuring you have the most current insights at your fingertips.
Check them out today, and let us know if you need additional details or specific data—we’re here to help!