California Legislature
ASSEMBLYMAN TRAVIS ALLEN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Stephanie Freedman
January 7, 2014
916-319-2072
Assemblyman Travis Allen’s Legislation to Strengthen California’s International Trade Strategy Passes Committee Unanimously
Requires that the Governor include a necessary update to the state’s five-year international strategy by February 1, 2019
SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman Travis Allen (R-Huntington Beach) presented Assembly Bill 337, which will update California’s international trade strategy to include vital port assessment, before the Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy (JEDE). AB 337 passed out of the JEDE Committee with a unanimous, bi-partisan vote of 8-0 today.
“We depend on California ports to increase international trade, strengthen our state’s economy, and provide good paying jobs. Increased competition from other states and countries, coupled with the widening of the Panama Canal in 2015 highlight the need to properly assess the steps our state should take to help our ports succeed,” said Assemblyman Travis Allen.
California ports handle approximately 45 percent of all the waterborne containerized cargo coming into the United States. Port activities employ more than 500,000 people in California, more than 2,000,000 nationwide and generate an estimated $7,000,000,000 in state and local taxes annually.
Specifically, AB 337 will require that the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (Go-Biz) international trade strategy includes an evaluation of the ports of entry to the state and their capacity for handling international trade originated in or destined for other states.
“Due to the amount of jobs and revenue relying on California’s ports, it’s imperative that we support this vital component of our international trade strategy. Our ports continuously need to adapt to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving global trade marketplace. This bill sends the message that the Legislature is committed to strengthening California’s economy through one of our strongest and best opportunities for growth – international trade,” said Assemblyman Travis Allen.