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Rep. Newhouse Statement on West Coast Ports Contract Agreement

February 21, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after a contract agreement was reported between the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU):

"I am encouraged that a resolution to this devastating labor dispute may finally be in sight. For nine long months, the two parties held trade-dependent communities hostage by crippling the movement of goods at our ports. Even if an agreement is imminent, the domino economic effect of the port slowdown on businesses and agricultural producers will continue even after the backlog at the ports is cleared. The loss of market share and confidence of overseas trading partners will not be restored overnight, and it is appropriate to evaluate all options that would end the economic threat posed by such disputes in the future."

Last week, Rep. Newhouse, Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA), Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR), and Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) introduced a bipartisan resolution in the House urging an end to the contract negotiation between the PMA and the ILWU.

The full text of the House resolution can be found here.