News Release
FOR RELEASE - March 16, 2009
Contact: Aaron Ellis, aellis@aapa-ports.org
703-684-5700

American Association of Port Authorities
Phone: (202) 792-4033
www.aapa-ports.org

AAPA ‘Spring Conference’ To Feature U.S. Rep. Jane Harman & Key Transportation, Port Officials

U.S. Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-CA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Maj. Gen. Don T. Riley, Pennsylvania DOT Sec. Allen D. Biehler, former U.S. DOT Sec. Rodney Slater (now a partner with Patton Boggs LLP), U.S. Department of Homeland Security's assistant administrator of the Grant Programs Directorate, W. Ross Ashley, and other government and business luminaries will all be featured presenters on Tuesday, March 24, during the American Association of Port Authorities' (AAPA) annual Spring Conference.

The March 23-24 conference, which takes place in Washington, D.C.'s historic Willard InterContinental Hotel, will attract more than 200 seaport industry leaders, legislators, government officials and staff members.  This year's presenters will focus their remarks on port security and transportation infrastructure investments, highlighting the opportunities and challenges for America's seaports to enhance homeland security, international competitiveness and deliver economic prosperity by supporting good-paying jobs, business development, freight mobility and global trade.

The Washington People's Luncheon on March 24 is the capstone event for AAPA's event, during which Rep. Harman will speak on port security and be honored with the association's "Port Person of the Year" award.  Earlier that day, European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Secretary General Patrick Verhoeven, together with ESPO Chairman Victor Schoenmakers (the Port of Rotterdam's Europe director), will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with AAPA to enhance cooperation and sharing of best practices between ports in Europe and throughout the Western Hemisphere.

WHAT:	AAPA's annual Spring Conference event (program info at /Programs/seminarschedule.cfm?itemnumber=10712)
WHEN:	Monday and Tuesday, March 23-24 (March 24 sessions open to media coverage)
WHERE:	Willard Inter-Continental Hotel, 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.
MEDIA	Credentialed journalists interested in covering this event for media purposes are asked to contact Aaron Ellis, aellis@aapa-ports.org, to obtain a media pass.