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Port of Long Beach Seeks Post‑Authorization Change and Fair Harbor Maintenance Trust Funding in WERDA 2026 Hearing

Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee · December 18, 2025

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Summary

The Port of Long Beach asked the House subcommittee to authorize a post‑authorization change report for an 80‑foot deep‑draft project and pressed Congress to ensure Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund distributions to donor and energy ports match congressional intent.

Noel Hasegaba, chief operating officer (to become CEO) of the Port of Long Beach, told the House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee that the port is seeking authorization in WERDA 2026 for a deep‑draft navigation project and a post‑authorization change report (PACR) to ‘‘right‑size’’ funding in light of cost escalation.

Hasegaba said the Port of Long Beach moves about $300 billion in cargo annually and supports approximately 2.7 million jobs across the United States. He asked the committee to continue full allocation of Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMT) revenues and called for equitable treatment of donor and energy transfer ports. "As both a donor and energy trust report, we estimate that the Port Of Long Beach alone generated $400,000,000 in HMT revenues in 2024," Hasegaba said. He added that the port received a $49 million HMT expanded‑use payment in FY 2024, and that omission of section 102 expanded uses in the Corps’ FY 2025 work plan resulted in a roughly $5.7 million difference for Long Beach compared with full section 102 allocations.

Why it matters: Hasegaba framed the deep‑draft project as essential both for commerce and national security — enabling the port to handle larger ships, improve energy supply movement, and support supply chains nationwide. Members from both parties asked detailed questions about HMT distributions, the timing of PACRs and Corps work plans, and how predictable funding streams affect planning and private investment.

Witnesses and members described the problem as twofold: (1) statutory authorization alone does not guarantee prompt appropriations or Corps action, and (2) the executive branch’s allocation of HMT and Corps work‑plan priorities can materially affect a port’s ability to finance dredging and safety projects. Hasegaba said a PACR and predictable HMT allocations would allow Long Beach to advance dredging, seismic and wharf safety work.

Next procedural steps: Hasegaba said he is working with Army Corps leadership on the PACR and that a Corps representative had recently visited the port. Members signaled support for ensuring that WERDA 2026 includes authorities or oversight to protect donor‑port priorities; the committee left the record open for further written material and testimony.