Oakland, Calif.–September 30, 2011–Public officials and maritime industry leaders joined together today at the Port of Oakland to call on Congress to release funds collected from California’s port customers to improve maritime infrastructure, create jobs and preserve California’s role as an international trade leader.

“California’s future as a global leader depends on much needed job creation and economic growth. Utilizing the federal Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund surplus doesn’t cost anyone a dime in new taxes, and it would immediately boost our trade competitiveness, invest in California’s infrastructure and help to grow jobs on our waterfront, our farms and our manufacturing floors,” said Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, speaking against the backdrop of container cranes in the Port of Oakland’s Inner Harbor.

Every year, California’s port customers pay more than $400 million in fees into a federal fund with assurances that the money will be available to fund the navigational maintenance and improvements necessary to keep U.S. ports competitive in a global marketplace. Unfortunately, the revenues deposited in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are not being spent and, instead of investing these funds to keep our ports competitive, the trust fund has now built up a surplus of over $5 billion.

In an effort to see the money released, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, the California Association of Port Authorities (CAPA), the California Marine Affairs and Navigation Conference (CMANC), the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) stood united in support of California Senate Joint Resolution 15, jointly authored by State Sen. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) and Sen. Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield). SJR 15 demands that the $5.6 billion surplus in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund be released immediately to fund improvements at California ports, promote job creation and support economic growth in California.

“The Californians calling on the federal government to release harbor maintenance funds aren’t just on the waterfront - in fact, agricultural exporters in the Central Valley are hurt when this money isn’t spent as promised,” said Sen. Fuller. “These funds were collected for the purpose of making the necessary infrastructure improvements and by seeing that the funds are spent on those improvements, we can ensure that California’s ports are among the most competitive in the world. Having competitive ports will help ensure that every part of California, once again, has a thriving economy.”

California’s three largest ports contribute an estimated $40 billion per year to national economic output and are responsible for an estimated 1.6 million jobs across the country. To move goods, these ports depend on properly dredged channels, without which California’s international trade, including agricultural and manufactured exports, cannot be shipped in the most reliable, timely and efficient manner–resulting in increased costs for waterborne transportation users and consumers, increased air emissions and fewer jobs.

Fees paid by customers of California’s public ports generate approximately 30% of the Harbor Maintenance Tax revenues which are collected from shippers at approximately 200 ports and harbors across the United States. However, from fiscal years 2005 to 2008, California received only about 4% of the total revenue collected. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, two of the nation’s largest container ports, currently receive less than a penny in benefits per dollar generated.

“California is facing the toughest job crisis since the Great Depression, so we need to make sure that federal investment in our trade infrastructure is a top priority,” said Sen. DeSaulnier. “This important resolution calls on Congress to release funds to our California ports in order to maintain their leadership role in international trade and to create crucial job opportunities around our nation when we need them the most.”

Graphic can be provided electronically upon request.

SJR 15 can be accessed at: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html Search Term: “SJR 15”

About the Port of Oakland, CA, USA:
The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport, Oakland International Airport, and 20 miles of waterfront. The Oakland seaport is the fifth busiest container port in the U.S.; Oakland International Airport is the second largest San Francisco Bay Area airport offering over 300 daily passenger and cargo flights; and the Port’s real estate includes commercial developments such as Jack London Square and hundreds of acres of public parks and conservation areas. Together, through Port operations and those of its tenants and users, the Port supports nearly 70,000 jobs in the region and over 800,000 jobs across the United States. The Port of Oakland was established in 1927 and is an independent department of the City of Oakland. Connect with the Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport through Facebook, or with the Port on Twitter, YouTube, and at www.portofoakland.com.

Media Contacts:

Robert Bernado
Communications Manager
(510) 627-1401
[email protected]