Last week, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsome joined maritime leaders at the Port of Oakland “to call on Congress to release funds collected from Californialeaders of the ILWU and the PMA joined elected officials at the Port of Oakland to support California Senate Joint Resolution 15, jointly authored by state Sen. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) and Sen. Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield). SJR 15 demands that the $5.6 billion surplus in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund be released immediately to fund improvements at California ports, promote job creation, and support economic growth in California.
“The workers who show up at the docks every day to build a better life for themselves, their families and their communities, also rely on the federal government to maintain the critical infrastructure improvements that have been promised to California’s ports. We are more committed to keeping and growing good waterfront jobs than ever before, and maintaining our channels at their authorized depth is critical.”
– Robert McEllrath, International President, International Longshore and Warehouse Union
“Despite the sizable contributions to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund by port customers in California, the need for additional operations and maintenance dredging continues to persist in our harbors throughout the state. Given the significant surplus that has been allowed to accumulate over the years in the trust fund, the inability to keep channels dredged to their maximum depth is nothing but a short-sighted drag on our economic growth.”
– James McKenna, President, Pacific Maritime Association