Local Port Officials Meet with Biden on Supply Chain

President Joe Biden June 10, met with Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero and Long Beach Harbor Commission President Steven Neal at the San Pedro Bay ports complex to address investments aimed at bolstering trade and building a resilient supply chain.

The meeting aboard the USS Iowa coincided with the final day of the Summit of the Americas, where Biden had introduced his Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity to drive economic growth across the country. Cordero participated in the summit’s “Los Angeles: A Path to Resiliency” panel on June 8 to discuss the port’s development of a real-time cargo tracking tool and plans to improve environmental sustainability.

President Biden, Cordero and Neal addressed how higher prices in logistics and transportation are contributing to inflation, ongoing efforts to quickly move cargo containers from the docks to consumer doorsteps, and funding for critical infrastructure projects at the Port of Long Beach.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration awarded a $52.3 million grant in late 2021 to the Port of Long Beach to develop the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility, which will enable the port to move more cargo by trains, improve efficiency and lessen environmental impacts.