News & Updates

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 21, 2012) – Florida Ports Council Legislative Chairman Paul Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT), briefed Florida’s Congressional Delegation on the opportunities and challenges facing Florida’s seaports. The Florida Ports Council has been advocating on behalf of Florida’s seaports on critical issues such as the release of dedicated Harbor Maintenance dollars as well as the passage of a responsible and strategic transportation package.

Florida Ports Council Legislative Chairman Paul Anderson, Jaxport, with U.S. Representative Cliff Stearns and U.S Representative Rich Nugent.

Anderson urged members to join the Ports Opportunity, Renewal, Trade and Security (PORTS) Caucus, established and co-chaired by Reps. Ted Poe of Texas and Janice Hahn of California to recognize the important role the nation’s ports play in the growth of the U.S. economy and the security of U.S. borders.

“The Florida Ports Council is urging our Congressional Delegation to join the PORTS Caucus to make sure that Florida’s seaports are a part of the important discussions about our country’s growing infrastructure needs,” said Doug Wheeler, president of the Florida Ports Council. “The federal government is a necessary partner in sustaining and improving our transportation infrastructure.”

“As the nation slowly recovers from the depths of the recent recession, there’s a growing realization that rapid changes in the industry globally are opening up new solid opportunities for Florida’s ports that will ensure our state’s future economic vitality,” Anderson told the delegation. “We need vision and investment at this crucial crossroads and we must make port progress a priority and part of the national discussion.”