Newhouse Statement on Selection of Port Performance Working Group Members
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement on the formation of the Port Performance Working Group. The Port Performance Working Group was created after an amendment that was offered by Rep. Newhouse and Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) to H.R. 22, Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), was signed into law in December, 2015. Rep. Newhouse and Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) included the Port Performance Program within the FAST Act to require the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) to collect and report port statistics which will then be published in an annual report by BTS. The Port Performance Working Group will make recommendations to BTS to determine specific port metrics. The working group includes government officials and representatives from labor and industry, with the final decision on metrics resting with the BTS Director.
“Improving port metrics by requiring objective baseline economic information is critical for an accurate picture of port operations and to prevent another disastrous port slowdown,” said Rep. Newhouse. “The selection of these diverse members from a range of port users and relevant agencies to the Port Performance Working Group as required by the FAST Act is an important step of progress toward providing much-needed port statistics. I was pleased to lead this effort, and I will continue to work to ensure our ports are working effectively. ”
Port Performance Freight Statistics Working Group Members:
David Adams, U.S. Maritime Alliance, Ltd.
Jonathan, Berkson U.S. Coast Guard
Lauren Brand, Maritime Administration
Kevin Brubaker, Environmental Law and Policy Center
Dennis Daggett, International Longshoremen's Association
Rick Gabrielson, Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
Manuel Garza, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
John Giorgis, Federal Transit Administration
John Gray, Association of American Railroads
Roger Guenther, Port of Houston, TX
Randy Iwasaki, Contra Costa (CA) Transportation Authority
Paul C. LaMarre, III, Port of Monroe, MI
Michael Lestingi, Federal Railroad Administration
Michelle Livingstone, Home Depot
Luis Loarte, Federal Aviation Administration
Andrew Lynn, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Mike Mabry, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (Retired)
Don Marcus, International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots, ILA/AFL-CIO
Ned Mitchell, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Jeffrey Pavlak, Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO
Michael Podue, International Longshore and Warehouse Union
Fred Potter, International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Caitlin Rayman, Federal Highway Administration
Darrell Ruban, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Eugene Seroka, Port of Los Angeles, CA
Mindy Shalaby, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Thomas Wakeman, III, Stevens Institute of Technology
Curtis Whalen, American Trucking Associations
Bill Wiatrowski, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Dennis Wilmsmeyer, America’s Central Port (Granite City, IL)
Tyler Wood, Federal Maritime Commission
Rebecca Yackley, Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
Allison Yoh, Port of Long Beach, CA
Background:
The Port Performance Program within the FAST Act created the following requirements:
- The BTS Director must submit a report on port capacity and throughput no later than January 15th of each year;
- The annual report must cover, at a minimum, the top 25 ports in the nation by tonnage, containers, and dry bulk;
- The working group members must submit their recommendations to the BTS Director within one year of enactment of the bill.