New AAPA Chair Prioritizes Port Funding and Infrastructure Bills

Richard Hendrick, CEO of the Port of Albany-Rensselaer, has been elected Chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), marking the first North Atlantic region chairperson in over 40 years. Hendrick's tenure focuses on stabilizing AAPA leadership, securing passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) for critical dredging operations, and maintaining momentum on the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), which allocated $538 million in the most recent funding cycle. The AAPA under its new CEO Sang Yi is aggressively pursuing government relations and supporting bipartisan permitting reform to accelerate project timelines across U.S. ports. Smaller ports like Albany face disproportionate challenges accessing capital compared to major coastal hubs such as Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Port security grant funding has contracted significantly: New York alone received $100 million in early years, but today the nationwide program totals only $93 million, forcing smaller facilities to compete directly with larger counterparts for limited resources. Hendrick emphasizes that grants and public investment are essential lifelines for smaller ports, as they lack the independent revenue streams to fund major infrastructure upgrades. The Port of Albany has invested nearly $500 million over Hendrick's tenure, including wharf reconstruction and 30 percent expansion of covered storage and district footprint. For supply chain professionals, this leadership transition signals sustained advocacy for port modernization and dredging maintenance.

The push for WRDA and PIDP funding, combined with bipartisan permitting reform, could reduce project approval timelines and enhance capacity across U.S. maritime gateways. However, the competitive funding environment means smaller regional ports may continue to face constraints unless additional appropriations materialize.