U.S. Chamber's Kavinoky Addresses National Port Summit in San Diego
Rolls Out Marine Transportation Policy Statement
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Chamber of Commerce Director of Transportation Infrastructure Janet Kavinoky rolled out the Chamber's Marine Transportation Policy Statement today during the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Maritime Administration's National Port Summit in San Diego, CA. Kavinoky discussed the importance of the marine transportation system (MTS) to the economy and the broader transportation network, challenges the MTS faces, and the Chamber's recommendations to prepare for future freight needs.
"The U.S. Chamber is ramping up its efforts and raising the profile of these issues," Kavinoky said. "We want to ensure that the nation's marine transportation system can provide a safe, efficient and reliable mode for transportation for our members to move their goods to domestic and international markets."
The marine transportation system plays a critical role in the global supply chain. Currently, waterborne cargo and associated activities contribute more than $742 billion annually to GDP, sustaining more than 13 million jobs"
"The Chamber commends Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for focusing on critical port issues and beginning outreach to freight stakeholders," said Kavinoky. "The Constitution makes explicit the federal role in supporting international and interstate commerce. I look forward to additional dialogues on how the nation's transportation system needs to evolve to ensure that this physical platform of the goods movement economy is safe, reliable, efficient and sustainable."
The total value of waterborne freight is estimated to increase by 43% domestically and 67% internationally between 2010 and 2020. The MTS is an integral, energy-efficient, and environmentally sustainable part of a national, multi-modal freight network, which, as a whole, must accommodate these increasing freight volumes to ensure the efficiency and competitiveness of the U.S. economy.
The primary interest of the U.S. Chamber is to ensure that the nation's MTS supports domestic economic development and U.S. global competitiveness by supporting and enhancing interstate commerce and international trade. Kavinoky laid out the four general areas that the Chamber believes are critical for the MTS to be able to meet current and future freight demands:
- Improve Federal Coordination
- Establish Priorities for Maintenance, Modernization, and Expansion
- Increase Investment in the MTS
- Create the Conditions for Successful Army Corps Project Delivery
The Chamber's full policy statement on marine transportation is available here: MTS Policy 2010.pdf
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.
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