Janice Hahn News

The Port of Houston Authority hosted Congressional leaders on port matters for a facilitated visit and tour of the Port of Houston, Friday, June 5. Congresswoman Janice Hahn, Congressman Ted Poe and Congressman Brian Babin visited the Port of Houston and learned more about the national impact of the Port of Houston overall and in particular its safety and security measures. The visit was arranged upon the invitation of Congressman Poe, who along with Congresswoman Hahn co-chair the PORTS Caucus, which represents more than 100 ports across the nation.

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) lauded H.R. 2028, the U.S. House of Representatives’ fiscal 2016 Energy and Water Appropriations bill that passed today, together with two bipartisan amendments included in the bill. Of particular interest to AAPA is the portion of the bill that funds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ navigation program, which manages improvements and maintenance of federal navigation channels at U.S. ports. The first amendment, offered by Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) and Rep.

Congresswoman Janice Hahn (Calif.) and Congressman John Duncan Jr. (Tenn.) introduced the “Honoring Our WWII Merchant Mariners Act of 2015,” which would provide a modest benefit to surviving Merchant Marines who served during World War II. More than 200,000 Americans served in the U.S. Merchant Marines and aided military efforts in both Europe and the Pacific during World War II. Thousands of Merchant Mariners faced enemy attack and died at sea while hundreds more were captured and held as prisoners of war. Despite having the highest casualty rate of any U.S. service during the war, they were not eligible to receive veteran’s benefits. “The veterans of the Merchant Marine risked their lives in the service of this nation, but we have never properly thanked them,” said Congresswoman Hahn.

Today, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) applauded a “Dear Colleague” letter to the leadership of the Senate Committee on Appropriations that was signed by 22 senators, urging appropriators to meet the dredging funding commitments made in the 2014 Water Resources Reform & Development Act (WRRDA), passed in May. That letter, together with a similar one circulated through the House earlier this fall to House Appropriations Committee leadership, supports the “Hit the HMT Target!” campaign to impress upon lawmakers the need to annually fund what was authorized in WRRDA. In July, the House approved fiscal 2015 appropriations that hit the HMT target, thanks to a floor amendment put forth by Cong. Janice Hahn (D-CA) and Cong.

Great Lakes legislators played a key role in yesterday’s vote in the House of Representatives to increase the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ national budget by nearly $58 million. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), along with Rep. Janice Hahn (D-Calif.), authored the amendment to the House’s FY15 Energy & Water Appropriations bill and Representatives Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Dan Benishek (R-Mich.) and Rick Nolan (D-Minn.) took the floor to support the measure. The additional funds will…

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster  (R-PA) have been jointly selected to receive the American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) 2014 “Port Person of the Year” award. The bi-partisan nomination for AAPA’s most prestigious annual award was submitted by the California Association of Port Authorities (CAPA). Marking its 102nd year as the Western Hemisphere’s leading trade association representing port authorities, AAPA selected Sen. Boxer and Cong. Shuster based on their dedication to improving America’s water resources, infrastructure and freight transportation policy. Their work toward reforming federal water resources development legislation…

On November 8, speaking at the Port of New Orleans, President Obama said “… corn and wheat is coming down from my home state of Illinois down the river, ending up here and then going all around the world. This was a victory for the inland waterways industry because while the President has recognized ports, dams, levees, trains, trucks and other transportation infrastructure, he has not, heretofore, underscored the value of the inland waterways. The President’s recognition of the…

Card reader technology is tested, proven and in use, nationwide. While the maritime industry awaits the Fed’s edict on MTSA, the solution already exists. The Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) requires that individuals needing unescorted access to MTSA-regulated Facilities and Vessels must first obtain a TWIC. To obtain a TWIC Card, an individual must meet certain eligibility requirements and pass a security threat assessment conducted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Individuals are then issued a tamper-resistant credential containing the cardholders biometric fingerprint data, which provides a conclusive link between the card and the individual cardholder. To date, more than 2 million of these credentials have been issued.

Testifying on behalf of the American Maritime Partnership, Kirby Corporation Chairman & CEO Joseph Pyne urged Members of Congress to strongly support the Jones Act for the economic, national security and homeland security benefits it provides to the United States. Mr. Pyne delivered his testimony at a May 21 hearing before the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation on “The Role of U.S. Ships and Mariners.” The first panel consisted of government witnesses who discussed the government’s role supporting U.S. ships and mariners, including John Porcari, Deputy Secretary of Transportation, and Gen. William Fraser, Commander, U.S. Transportation Command. The second panel consisted of U.S.

Congresswoman Janice Hahn (D-CA) and Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX), Co-Founders of the bi-partisan PORTS Caucus were honored with the distinguished American Association of Port Authorities 2013 “Port Person of the Year” award at the association’s annual spring conference in Washington, DC. “I am honored to accept this prestigious award with my friend and colleague, Congressman Poe,” said Congresswoman Hahn. “Occasions of bipartisanship in this city are few and far between, especially now when our nation’s economic future hinges on cooperation and compromise. “Ted and I teamed up to ensure that our ports play a prominent role in our national policy discussions, and this award is a ringing endorsement of the PORTS Caucus’ progress.

Three luminaries will augment the speaker panel at the American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) upcoming conference. U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, the new chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; Lt. Gen. Thomas Bostick, commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and W. Ralph Basham, a principle with Command Consulting Group in Washington, D.C., and former commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and director of the U.S. Secret Service; will help round-out an already illustrious selection of speakers at the Washington DC conference, March 18-19, 2013. As part of AAPA’s Spring Conference program at The Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel, U.S. Other program speakers for this year’s event include U.S. Sen.

US Congressional Ports caucus leaders request the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee to hold a hearing on the Fund. Congresswoman Janice Hahn (CA-44) and Congressman Ted Poe (TX-2) have addressed the following letter to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman, The Honorable Bill Shuster, and Ranking Member, The Honorable Nick J. "As co-founders and co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional PORTS Caucus, the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) is a top area of interest for us. As such, we are writing to request that the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hold a hearing on the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund as the first step towards improving our utilization of those funds.

U.S. Reps Janice Hahn & Ted Poe to Accept AAPA’s ‘Port Person of Year’ Award at March 19 Event in D.C.; AAPA’s 2013 ‘Spring Conference’ to focus on key seaport priorities: infrastructure, security, trade. U.S. Representatives Janice Hahn (D-CA) and Ted Poe (R-TX) will be honored on March 19 as the American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) 2013 “Port Persons of the Year” during the association’s annual Spring Conference event, March 18-19, at The Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Maritime Administration (MARAD), has designated particular ports around the United States as “strategic seaports.”  Strategic seaports are designated because of their ability to support major force and material deployments in times of war and national emergency, based on their proximity to deploying military units and their transportation links close to those units, and varying other capabilities the DOD has deemed important…

Congresswoman Hahn’s Port Security Bill Passes the House. Congresswoman Janice Hahn’s port security legislation has passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 411 to 9. H.R. 4005 “Gauging American Port Security Act” or GAPS Act directs the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a comprehensive classified examination of remaining gaps in port security and prepare a plan to address them. “The loopholes that continue to exist in port security keeps me up at night,” said Rep. Hahn. “My first question as a member of the Homeland Security Committee was to Lee Hamilton, vice chair of the 9/11 Commission, on what Congress should be doing to protect our ports. Mr. Ships make 50,000 calls a year on U.S. ports, carrying two billion tons of freight and 134 million passengers.

Harbor Commission Approves Environmental Impact Report, Lease Agreement; Historic Battleship Plans to Open to Public July 7. The Los Angeles Harbor Commission today voted unanimously to create a new home for the historic battleship, the USS IOWA, in a prime location along the LA Waterfront at the Port of Los Angeles. In separate actions, The Harbor Commission approved the lease agreement and an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) necessary to bring the World War II icon to the LA Waterfront  where it will be converted to an interactive naval museum and living memorial.

U.S. Rep. John Mica To Accept AAPA ‘Port Person Of Year’ Award At March 20 Event Luncheon. AAPA Centennial ‘Spring Conference’ Speakers Will Focus On Raising Priorities For Freight Infrastructure. U.S. Congressman John Mica (R-FL) will be honored on March 20 as the American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) “Port Person of the Year” during the association’s 100th anniversary Spring Conference event, March 19-20, at The Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel. Celebrating its first century as the Western Hemisphere’s leading trade association representing port authorities…

USS Los Angeles (SSN 688) will arrive at the Port of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 20, for a final visit that includes a decommissioning ceremony Jan. 23. USS Los Angeles departed Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Jan. 14, and is stopping in Los Angeles en route to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for inactivation. The visit will include participation by the crew in numerous public events ongoing throughout the weekend. The Jan. 23 decommissioning ceremony will feature many former Los Angeles crewmembers, former Los Angeles Commanding Officer Rear Adm. (ret) John Shipway, Commodore of Submarine Squadron One Capt. Stan Robertson, Representative for the U.S. 46th District Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, and Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn.

On May 1, will address a longstanding need for the expanding police force at ’s largest container port. Councilwoman Janice Hahn, Port Police officials and senior management will break ground on a $43m 51,000-sq. ft. headquarters for the Port Police. The facility--to be constructed to the LEED gold standard rating from the U.S. Green Building Council--will include updated dispatch, surveillance and emergency operations centers, enabling the police agency to enhance its capability to serve the Port and adjacent communities.

The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners, acting on the request of Mayor Jim Hahn to maintain and enhance the quality of life of residents of the harbor area, adopted a historic environmental policy regarding Port of Los Angeles operations and future mitigation measures. “The Board is proud to establish this new environmental policy which sets as a goal that there will be no net increase in air emissions or traffic impact from future Port operations,” said Commission President Nicholas G. Tonsich. Port staff was directed to conduct seven separate environmental studies. Conduct baseline air emission inventory of the Port area focused on diesel particulates…

The Port of Los Angeles announced the appointment of Marisa Trutanich as environmental mitigation coordinator, a position designed to serve as the critical link between the Port of Los Angeles and Port Community Advisory Committee. The environmental mitigation coordinator manages mitigation, funding and proposals for specific Port development projects, monitors the implementation of approved mitigation measures and reviews environmental studies and reports. "Marisa is the appropriate choice for this position," said Commissioner Camilla Kocol. Trutanich has worked as a management analyst in the Port's Planning Division since January 2003, where she managed the planning aspect of various Port development projects.

The Public Relations & Legislative Affairs division at the Port of Los Angeles has hired three new team members to help extend Port-related community interaction and legislative activity in support of a roster of current and upcoming Port initiatives. Coming to the Port from the Los Angeles City Commission on the Status of Women, Veronica Hendrix has been hired as the Port’s new community-focused Public Information Director. Legislative Director for 15th District Councilwoman Janice Hahn, assumes the Port’s Los Angeles-focus Legislative Representative post. Wilmington resident and community representative Cecilia Moreno also has joined the Port in the newly created position of Community Affairs Advocate.