By Karen Robes Meeks
A group representing the nation’s largest seaports, major marine terminal operators as well as the agricultural sector and big box retailers sent letters to President Donald Trump and Senate and House leaders urging them “not to overlook America’s ports” in the overall investment plan on infrastructure.
The Coalition for More Efficient Ports consists of the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and New York/New Jersey, Ports America and SSA, Agriculture Transportation Coalition and the Retail Industry Leaders Association.
“Outdated infrastructure at our nation’s ports threatens to interrupt the supply chain and ultimately the American economy,” the coalition wrote to the president in a letter sent January 3. “This critical infrastructure challenge must be met by increased public and private investment in US ports.”
The coalition brought up the ports’ vital economic role, supporting 23 million jobs and generating more than $321 billion in tax revenue in 2015, according to the American Association of Port Authorities.
It also quoted Business Roundtable’s assertion that “underinvestment in ports results in increased prices and lost economic opportunity – as much as tens of billions of dollars every year.”
