Padilla Highlights Infrastructure Bill and Supply Chain Impacts at California Port

LONG BEACH — Following the recent passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act in Congress, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) Nov. 12, received a joint briefing from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach along with CalSTA Secretary David S. Kim, U.S. Congressmember Nanette Barragan, Mayor of Long Beach Dr. Robert Garcia, local labor leaders, and representatives from the ports.

The Senator highlighted how the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act will benefit California’s ports and waterway infrastructure and improve supply chain resiliency, as well as the Biden administration’s recent announcement of a multi-billion dollar plan to accelerate investment in ports, waterways, and freight networks.

The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach handle an estimated 40% of the container traffic that enters the United States. Senator Padilla recently spoke with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in support of the innovative partnership between the State of California and the U.S. Department of Transportation to help strengthen the supply chain with multi-billion dollar infrastructure improvements in California designed to improve the capacity and resiliency of the goods movement chain.

The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is the largest investment in the  nation’s infrastructure in nearly a century. It will provide approximately $17 billion for port and waterway infrastructure, and $5 billion for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement program to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of freight and intercity passenger rail across the country. Senator Padilla has advocated for investments in the Build Back Better Act to address the environmental impact of supply chain activities in nearby communities, including $3.5 billion for port electrification and decarbonization as well as $3 billion in environmental justice block grants.

The week of Nov. 8, the Biden-Harris Administration announced additional steps to mobilize federal agencies and lay the foundation for the successful implementation of the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The U.S. Department of Transportation will allow port authorities across the country to redirect project cost savings toward tackling supply chain challenges. 

Details: www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/action-plan-for-ports-waterways