Pacific Merchant Shipping Association applauds Gov. Brown’s executive order creation of an integrated freight plan

John McLaurin, President of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA), issued the following statement in reaction to Gov. Jerry Brown’s Executive Order B-32-15 issued today. The Executive Order requires the state to develop an integrated action plan by June 2016 that will increase the competitiveness of California's freight system while reducing its environmental impacts:

“PMSA and its members are supportive of California’s efforts to invest in the future of our state’s freight system and plan for growth. This Executive Order recognizes the competitive pressures faced by California ports and directs the creation of a balanced plan which will ensure that ports have an opportunity to grow while also taking the next steps in our already successful environmental improvement programs. Additional cargo through California ports is good not only for the economy but for the environment, as California ports are leading the way in air quality improvement investments. Today’s executive order is a good first step towards ensuring that California’s efforts to reduce emissions are sustainable both environmentally and economically.”