Recognizing the importance of ports to the economy and national security of the United States.

Whereas ports play a vital role in the United States economy; Whereas ports impact lives in every Congressional District in the United States by creating jobs, economic growth, and opportunity; Whereas the United States is served by more than 350 commercial sea and river ports that support 3,200 cargo and passenger handling facilities; Whereas each day, United States ports move both imports and exports totaling some $3.8 billion worth of goods through all 50 States and territories; Whereas deep-draft ports move 99.4 percent of overseas cargo volume by weight and 64.1 percent of trade by value; Whereas ports move 1.4 billion tons worth of goods and generate $3.95 trillion in international trade; Whereas between 2001 and 2020, total freight moved through United States ports will increase by 50 percent; Whereas trucks and rail move goods across the United States and contribute to the national economy; Whereas more than 1 billion tons of domestic goods are transported via water each year; Whereas ports generated $23.3 billion in United States Custom duty, accounting for 70 percent of all United States Custom duties collected; Whereas international trade moving through ports accounts for 11 percent of the gross domestic product of the United States; Whereas port activity generates over $200 billion in Federal, State, and local tax revenue; Whereas ports support jobs for more than 13.3 million people in the United States nationwide; Whereas for every $1 billion in exports shipped through ports, 15,000 United States jobs are created; Whereas business activity related to seaports contributes $3.15 trillion to the United States economy; Whereas the cruise line industry contributed $35.85 billion to the United States economy and created nearly 330,000 jobs in the United States that generated $15.2 billion in wages in 2010; Whereas United States ports account for 75 percent of cruise embarkations worldwide; and Whereas 79 percent of cruise-related expenditures are made with businesses, including airlines, travel agents, and ship maintenance and refurbishers, throughout the United States: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives— (1) recognizes the importance of ports to the economy and national security of the United States; (2) urges the President, Federal officials, and other relevant stakeholders to consider this importance in decisionmaking and promote policies that strengthen seaport-related infrastructure; (3) affirms the longstanding Federal partnership with ports as it relates to improvements to port-related infrastructure and its commitment to ensuring the safety of the United States ports and the communities in which they are located; and (4) expresses its gratitude to the millions of men and women who work at ports across the United States.

Summary: Recognizes the importance of ports to the economy and national security of the United States. Urges the President, federal officials, and other relevant stakeholders to consider this importance in decisionmaking and promote policies that strengthen seaport related infrastructure. Expresses the House of Representatives' gratitude to the millions of men and women who work at ports across the United States.