News Release
FOR RELEASE - May 12, 2017
Contact: Aaron Ellis, Public Affairs Director, aellis@aapa-ports.org
(703) 684-5700

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

Ports Association Supporting Three Infrastructure Week Events

AAPA to co-sponsor events in D.C. and Indianapolis, and show additional support through speakers and social media

In conjunction with Infrastructure Week (May 15-19), the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) … the unified and recognized voice of America’s seaports … is co-hosting a Congressional Ports Caucus briefing on Capitol Hill and supporting the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 5^th Annual Global Supply Chain Summit in Washington on May 17, and also co-hosting a freight transportation industry Influencer’s Roundtable in Indianapolis on May 18.

In addition to supporting these three events, AAPA will herald Infrastructure Week via its Twitter and Facebook networks, using illustrated messages that showcase the value of federal investments in freight transportation infrastructure to the economy, jobs and international competitiveness.

“America’s seaports, whose activities serve a vital role in creating U.S. jobs, bolstering economic prosperity, fostering international competitiveness and generating billions of dollars a year in tax revenue, depend on efficient transportation infrastructure for their very survival,” said Kurt Nagle, AAPA president and CEO. “Overall, activities at our nation’s ports support 23 million American jobs, generate $4.6 trillion in annual economic activity and produce $321 billion a year in tax receipts. To build America’s 21^st century seaport infrastructure and ensure these economic impacts continue, our ports need a combined $66 billion of federal investments over the next 10 years into the roads, rails and waterways that connect to them.”

On May 17, AAPA and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) … the nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing America’s highway and transportation departments … will co-host a Congressional PORTS Caucus briefing, titled “By Road, Rail and Sea: Building a 21^st Century Multi-modal Freight Network.” PORTS Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) and Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) will conduct the approximately one-hour panel briefing beginning at 1:30 p.m. in Room 2253 of the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill. It will be moderated by Port Everglades CEO Steve Cernak, who is also AAPA’s chairman of the board-elect, and will feature presentations from Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Dr. Shawn Wilson, Port of Port Arthur (Tex.) Deputy Port Director Larry Kelley, BNSF Railway Chief Legal Officer Roger Nober, and American Trucking Associations First Vice-Chairman David Manning. Presenters will cover an array of freight transportation issues, chief among them how provisions under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act are being implemented.

The following day, AAPA and the Ports of Indiana will co-host a national freight transportation industry “Influencer’s Roundtable” forum from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Westin Indianapolis Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. At that event, 20 invited “influencers,” comprising key transportation, business, academic and government leaders from around the country, will gather to talk frankly about the current state of America’s transportation infrastructure and what needs to be done to make improvements.AAPA is also supporting the U.S. Chamber’s May 17 Global Supply Chain Summit event through AAPA Executive Committee member Molly Campbell, PPM^®, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s port director.  Ms. Campbell will speak on the panel titled “#TimeToBuild Modern Infrastructure” that runs from 10:25 a.m. to 11:05 a.m. The panel will include Ed Mortimer, the Chamber’s executive director of Transportation Infrastructure; Karla Gonzalez, the Embassy of Panama’s deputy chief of mission; Bill Sullivan, executive vice president of advocacy for the American Trucking Associations; and Chris Ward, senior vice president and chief executive for AECOM’s New York Metro Area.

To view the May 18 agenda and list of confirmed “influencers,” click here.

“At a time when the new Administration and Congress are focused on creating American jobs, propelling the economy and modernizing infrastructure, the role played by America’s freight transportation system is more critical than ever,” said Mr. Nagle. “Ports are a vital part of the transportation infrastructure and keystones of a strong economy. However, transportation infrastructure investment has lagged, thus impacting the flow of goods and access to the global marketplace on which American farmers, manufacturers, workers and consumers rely.”

 

About AAPA
Founded in 1912, AAPA today represents 130 of the leading seaport authorities in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean and more than 200 sustaining and associate members, firms and individuals with an interest in seaports. According to IHS World Trade Service, combined international sea trade moving through Western Hemisphere ports in 2014 totaled 3.48 billion metric tons in volume and US$3.75 trillion in value. Of that total, ports in Central and South America handled 1.68 billion metric tons of cargo valued at US$1.36 trillion, while North American ports handled 1.79 billion metric tons of goods, valued at US$2.39 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.