Award to precede speech on grant opportunities for reducing diesel emissions.
Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) will be honored in Wilmington, Del., on Oct. 7 as the American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) “U.S. Port Person of the Year” at a special luncheon given by the Port of Wilmington Maritime Society. AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle will present the award in recognition of Sen. Carper’s many contributions toward improving the nation’s transportation infrastructure, including its deep-draft navigation channels. The award also credits Sen. Carper for his work on enhancing U.S. port security and reducing harmful diesel emissions at seaports and other transportation facilities.
AAPA’s Port Person of the Year award is presented to honor an individual or individuals whose outstanding work or service has made a significant contribution to public port authorities and/or maritime commerce in the Western Hemisphere. Nominees may be recognized for positive contributions with international impact or for benefits to ports within a country or region. “Senator Carper is one of our country’s leading public servants dedicated to advancing and growing the competitiveness of the nation’s transportation system and the maritime industry,” said Mr. Nagle. “His accomplishments in Congress, such as championing the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) of 2010, demonstrate that he’s an unwavering advocate of the port industry, of port communities, and of the 13.3 million Americans whose jobs are linked to port activities. His advocacy is enabling seaports to operate safely and efficiently while creating and sustaining good-paying jobs.”
A combat veteran, a U.S. senator since 2011, a two-term governor and a five-term U.S. congressman, Sen. Carper has served on the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee since 2001, where he led efforts to increase port security in the wake of 9/11, and was instrumental in passage of the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. Also since 2001, he has served on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and where he was a conferee on the Water Resources Development Act of 2007. In 2007 and 2008, he also served on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. Coast Guard, coastal zone management, transportation and highway safety, inland waterways, ocean navigation, safety and transportation, and the U.S. Merchant Marine.
Following the U.S. Port Person of the Year award presentation, Mr. Nagle will serve as the luncheon’s guest speaker on the topic of diesel emissions reduction grants. He will discuss the impacts of diesel emissions in the maritime communities, what U.S. seaports are doing to reduce harmful diesel emissions in and around their facilities, and the federal grant opportunities available to commercial operations looking to retrofit, repower, replace or refuel older diesel-powered vehicles and equipment.