Padilla Statement on Administration Actions to Address Supply Chain Congestion

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) released the following statement after the Biden Administration announced new actions to address supply chain congestion, including that the Port of Los Angeles will be joining the Port of Long Beach to launch 24/7 operations to help ease bottlenecks:

“Today’s announcement is welcome news as two of the most critical ports in the country face a record surge in cargo shipments. As the holidays approach, we must continue to look for innovative ways to increase the movement of goods across the country. While this effort will help ease the flow of goods into the country, I look forward to working closely with the administration to address the remaining challenges in transporting goods from the ports to homes and businesses.”

Senator Padilla voted to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in August, which would provide approximately $17 billion for port and waterway infrastructure, including funding to support zero-emission technology and electrification to mitigate air quality and environmental impacts on nearby communities. Senator Padilla also voted to pass the United States Innovation and Competition Act in June, which would allocate tens of billions of dollars and bolster the federal government’s efforts to mitigate and address supply chain vulnerabilities.

The Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach handle about 40% of the container traffic that enters the United States. This expansion to 24/7 operations means the Port of Los Angeles can nearly double the hours that cargo will be able to move out of its docks and onto trucks and trains.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) has announced its members are willing to work those extra shifts. This will add needed capacity to put towards clearing existing backlogs.

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