Thanks to our industry’s public relations efforts and new attention by the media looking for bright economic news in today’s challenging climate, the general public is aware of the economic importance of a healthy maritime industry. Our legislators also are becoming aware of our industry’s contributions to the nation’s economic well-being.
This trend must continue. If leaders in Congress fail to recognize the role played by cargo activity in boosting our nation’s economy, we’ll be in trouble, because we can’t go it alone.
Activities such as the deepening of our river channels, construction of new maritime facilities and enhancement of our rail and highway infrastructure require a federal component to become reality.
For most of us, municipal support of our local ports in the past gave way out of necessity to state support. With states facing budget restraints, U.S. seaports now must work more closely with the federal government if the maritime industry is to continue its important national role.
I recognize this can be an uphill battle. With the incoming Congress scrutinizing spending more than ever, we have our work cut out for us. We must demonstrate that necessary investment in transportation infrastructure is just as important as saving money through spending cuts. Although we must choose our projects carefully to avoid accusations of wastefulness, the federal government must continue to believe that not investing in our waterways, cargo facilities, and rail and truck infrastructure will only cause negative consequences down the line.
The rest of the world increasingly is doing its part to improve the efficiency of the maritime industry (witness the retrofitting of the Panama Canal, for example), so we must continue to do ours. There will likely be much shouting and arguing in the halls of our capital during the next two years. Let’s make sure our nation’s ports don’t get lost in the shuffle.