A major issue facing the public port industry this year is whether the federal government will move ahead with the important pieces of legislation necessary for us to meet President Obama’s goal of doubling exports in five years.
An efficient freight transportation system with deep navigation channels and seamless intermodal connections is essential if we are to move U.S. products to overseas markets.
The passage of a long overdue Water Resources Development Act, the reauthorization of a surface transportation bill and spending the full Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are critical if we are to remain competitive.
However, with the results of the 2010 elections, we are unsure what the administration and the 112th Congress will focus on in the next year. Will a now-divided Congress result in legislative gridlock or can there be a compromise?
If the issue that drove the election results was jobs, the maritime industry should fare well because of the economic impact generated by our seaports. Whether it is ensuring that retail inventories are maintained to facilitate consumer spending, or getting our domestic goods shipped out to the global marketplace, the port is the critical piece of that transportation infrastructure.
I hope Washington clearly heard the message from voters that our government needs to be functional, and find better ways to stimulate the economy and create long-term jobs. If so, it should be a good year for the public port industry.