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gCaptain
A blog about ships!
National Geographic “America’s Port” - Starts Sunday | gCaptain.com
Started by gcaptain · 3 months ago
7 months ago
Sincerely,
Linda Shelley
7 months ago
7 months ago
To: Congressman Jerry Lewis R-CA, Ranking Member House Appropriations Comte:
Dear Congressman Lewis:
Congress unknowingly has funded the NAFTA Super Highway by funding I-69 in part in the respective states.
The completion of I-69 in each state coupled with the expansion of the Panama Canal, now in progress, would have the effect of sending Asian commercial shipping through the Panama Canal rather than Los Angeles/Long Beach and the rest of the West Coast.
In future years, this would cause severe economic harm to the West Coast and the nation.
For those who would say that there is enough traffic for every one are "whistleling Dixie," and I know "Dixie" being an African-American born and raised in North Carolina.
THEREFORE, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST A RECISSION OF ALLOCATED FUNDS FOR THE I-69 PROJECT IN THE RESPECTIVE STATES.
Sincerely,
Robert E. Fisher, MSW
Former City of Los Angeles Legislative Analyst/City Rep to the California Coastal Commission 1974-78
7 months ago
April 19, 2008
My Congressman Jerry Lewis R-CA , 41st District and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee does not seem to realize that by providing funds to be matched by the states of Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas, amounts to the "NAFTA Super Highway."
He denies that the federal government is funding the "NAFTA Super Highway" from Mexico City to Canada. However, by funding links of I-69 in each of the above states, Congress has provided funding for the "NAFTA Super Highway" and more, NAFTA Corridors. This appears to be innocent looking except, should one look at what happens, when the expansion of the Panama Canal, now under construction, is put into the equation, the Port of Houston is the beneficiary not Los Angeles/Long Beach or other West Coast Ports, such as, Oakland, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle.
In future years, this would have a devastating adverse negative impact on the West Coast economies. Ports would shut down, unemployment would soar,commerce would suffer, and our way of life in the U.S. would plummet.
Just as the March and Norton Air force base closings have depressed the economy in the Inland Empire, so would the economies around port cities on the West Coast suffer.
California, Oregon, and Washington State must band together to get recissions on the FY 2008 Federal Budget regarding the NAFTA Corridors indicated below.
For those who say there is enough commercial shipping traffic traffic from Asia to go around, again, I say they are whistleling "DIXIE, and I know "DIXIE"..., being an African-American born and raised in North Carolina.
Sincerely,
Robert E. Fisher, MSW,
Former City of Los Angeles Legislative Analyst/City Rep to the California Coastal Commission 1974-78
cc: Pacific Maritime Assn.
A Message From My Congressman Jerry Lewis:
Mr. Robert E. Fisher
7717 Church Avenue
Highland, CA 92346
Dear Mr. Fisher:
Thank you for writing to me with concerns about the proposed "NAFTA Highway." I appreciate the chance to respond to my constituents on matters of national importance.
Shortly after the approval of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, a number of Midwest and Southwest states began discussing the possibility of extending Interstate 69 from Indianapolis, Indiana to the Mexican border. The Interstate originates on the Canadian border in Michigan and now terminates in Indianapolis. The main promoters - the states of Indiana and Texas - named their plan the NAFTA Highway and urged federal support as a way to speed goods from Mexico to the nation's interior.
At the request of the states, Congress has allocated funding for the development of Interstate 69 in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. As with all federal highway projects, the states must provide a matching fund and have the chief responsibility for design, land acquisition and construction of the highway. None of the states has progressed to the point of construction of their portion of this highway.
There is no federal plan to create a superhighway from Canada to Mexico, although both Congress and the Administration supported the development of more "goods movement" corridors throughout the nation in the current federal highway authorization bill. I was pleased that the bill included the Alameda Corridor, which aids in the movement of goods from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach through the Inland Empire.
The administration does not have the authority to approve or develop a new trade corridor in the interior of the United States, or waive any restrictions on inspections or standards to facilitate goods movement with Canada and Mexico. Congress retains full control of these matters, and I assure you that no changes will be made without lengthy and detailed hearings. As you may know, the House of Representatives is currently conducting field hearings about the need to strengthen border security, not weaken it. This includes the consideration of any new trade corridors.
Thank you again for contacting me on this issue. I will keep your concerns in mind as we continue to consider legislation to improve our border security.
Sincerely,
Jerry Lewis
Member of Congress
7 months ago
CC: letters@latimes.com, Letters@msnbc.com, letters@ocregister.com, letters@sfchronicle.com, letters@washpost.com
Sent: 4/26/2008 7:21:48 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time
Subj: PORTS OF LOS ANGELES AND LONG BEACH IN PERIL
WHY ARE RECISSIONS NEEDED ON I-69 PROJECTS IN THE VARIOUS STATES IN THE FY 2008 FEDERAL HIGHWAYS TRANSPORTATION BUDGET?
California elected officials should support the above recissions to the I-69 projects in the various states, because completion of these projects in future years would take away $billions of business from California, and give it to possibly the PORT OF HOUSTON or some other port in the "NAFTA Scheme of things."
Recissions are needed to avoid Asian cargo container vessels from by-passing Los Angeles and Long Beach Ports by going through the Panama Canal to berth at the Port of Houston in future years, once the Panama Canal is widened to accomodate cargo container vessels.
Currently, these vessels do not have an alternative to the San Pedro Bay Ports. However, proposed deep water ports in Mexico and the Panama Canal expansion project, now under construction would change things.
The Asian nations have been complaining about the high cost of port fees for over 30 years, I know because I was the Rep for essentially all local govts in the California Coastal Communities to the California Coastal Commission 1974-78.
Container fees have escalated over 30 years, and have not been lowered.
Environment regulations of the California Coastal Commission, the Bay Conservation Development Commission (BCDC), and the Air Resources Board have added more costs for compliance with the above environmental regulatory agencies for Asian cargo container vessels.
Common sense would tell you that should Asian cargo container vessels by-pass Los Angeles/Long Beach in future years, it would be cost beneficial to the Asian cargo container vessels.
ONE CAN THANK BILL CLINTON AND GEORGE W. BUSH FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT
by:
Robert E. Fisher, MSW,
Former City of Los Angeles Legislative Analyst/City Rep to the California Coastal Commission 1974-78
6 months ago
Mr. Robert E. Fisher
7717 Church Avenue
Highland, CA 92346
Dear Mr. Fisher:
Thank you for contacting me. It is good to hear from you and I am pleased to respond.
Ports handle more than 35% (by value) of the Nation's imports and exports, and the role of water transport in the national economy is growing as trade policies increase the quantity of goods transported. A recent assessment of the U.S. marine transportation system by the Department of Transportation predicts that the total tonnage of U.S. domestic and international marine trade will more than double by 2020. Ocean carriers are deploying larger ships to handle the robust growth in maritime trade.
Federal funding for port maintenance has long been a controversial issue. Numerous funding alternatives, including carrier-based user fees, have been proposed. Congress is in the early stages of the Fiscal Year 2009 budget process. You can be certain that port maintenance funding will be debated by the relevant committees in the months ahead. In the meantime, you can be sure I will keep your strong views in mind.
Thanks again for taking the time to get in touch. As Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to work on behalf of the constituents that I proudly represent in Congress. Please feel free to contact me in the future in regards to this or any issue of concern.
Sincerely,
Jerry Lewis
Member of Congress