News Release
FOR RELEASE - March 21, 2017
Contact: Aaron Ellis, Public Affairs Director, aaron.ellis@cox.net
(703) 765-3232
American Association of Port Authorities
Phone: (202) 792-4033
www.aapa-ports.org
 |
| U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao |
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao will serve as the keynote speaker on April 5 for the 2017 Spring Conference of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) – the unified and recognized voice of seaports in the Americas.
The focus of her remarks is expected to be on the importance and value of ports and port-related infrastructure for the safe, efficient, sustainable and cost-competitive movement of goods and people.
Cargo activities alone at U.S. seaports account for more than one-quarter of the American economy, support over 23 million jobs, generate $321 billion a year in federal, state and local taxes, and move over 2 billion metric tons of domestic and international goods.
“AAPA is delighted to have America’s new transportation secretary serve as our keynote speaker on April 5 for this year’s AAPA’s Spring Conference,” said Kurt Nagle, AAPA president and CEO. “We’re particularly pleased that Secretary Chao has a deep understanding and appreciation of the maritime industry.”
Mr. Nagle noted that Secretary Chao’s knowledge of ports was honed through years of public service, including as Deputy Administrator for USDOT’s Maritime Administration and as Chairwoman of the Federal Maritime Commission in the 1980s. She has also served as Secretary of Labor under the George W. Bush administration, and as Deputy Secretary of Transportation under the George H.W. Bush administration.
For more information on Secretary Chao’s background in transportation, click here. For more information about AAPA’s 2017 Spring Conference agenda and speakers, click here.
| WHO: | U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao |
| WHAT: | Keynote speaker for AAPA’s 2017 Spring Conference event |
| WHEN: | Wednesday, April 5, 12:00 noon – 1:30pm. |
| WHERE: | Renaissance Washington DC Downtown Hotel, 999 Ninth Street NW, Washington, DC 20001 |
| MEDIA: |
Professional journalists representing bona-fide media outlets may register for complimentary access to open business sessions (April 4, 12:30pm – 4:45pm and April 5, 8:30am – 4:30pm) by emailing Aaron Ellis at aellis@aapa-ports.org and requesting a media badge. |
About AAPA
Founded in 1912, AAPA today represents 140 of the leading seaport authorities in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean and more than 250 sustaining and associate members, firms and individuals with an interest in seaports. According to IHS Inc. - World Trade Service, combined international sea trade moving through Western Hemisphere ports in 2015 totaled 3.45 billion metric tons in volume and US$3.36 trillion in value. Of that total, ports in Central and South America handled 1.69 billion metric tons of cargo valued at US$1.15 trillion, while North American ports handled 1.76 billion metric tons of goods, valued at US$2.21 trillion. To meet the growing demand for trade, the AAPA and its members are committed to keeping seaports navigable, secure and sustainable. For more information, visit www.aapa-ports.org. On Twitter: http://twitter.com/AAPA_Seaports
