Congresswoman Hahn Applauds Creation of White House Task Force On Ports

Washington, DC – This afternoon, Congresswoman Janice Hahn, founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional PORTS Caucus, praised President Obama for the creation of a White House-led Task Force to focus on investing in the economic vitality of our ports.

“Our ports are an incredibly important part of our economy and I’m pleased the President has established this Task Force,” said Rep. Hahn. “When I came to Congress last year, I founded the PORTS Caucus to increase the visibility of our ports and the vital role they play in our national economy. The President’s announcement means that our efforts are working and that ports are taking their rightful place at the top of our economic discussion.”

Rep. Hahn founded the PORTS Caucus along with Rep. Ted Poe of Texas to promote the importance of our ports to the nation’s economy and the need to secure them. United States ports support 13.3 million jobs and account for $3.15 trillion in business activity to the economy.

The PORTS Caucus recently met with Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Maritime Administrator David Matsuda to discuss ports and the importance of developing a national freight policy. Rep. Hahn fought for the inclusion of a language promoting freight movement in the surface transportation bill that passed this month.

The White House released this announcement:

The Obama Administration is also announcing the establishment of a White House-led Task Force that will consist of senior officials from various White House offices, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Departments of Transportation, Commerce, Homeland Security, and the Treasury. The Task Force will develop a Federal strategy and coordinated decision making principles that focus on the economic return of investments into coastal ports and related infrastructure to support the movement of commerce throughout the Nation. For more information on the Task Force, please click HERE.

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