Senator Byrd Named Port Person Of The Year
For the fiscal 2008 Appropriations bill, Senator Byrd included a funding level of $400 million for the PSG program to follow through on his commitment to safeguard the nation's ports. "Senator Byrd's consistent effort to fund and secure our ports has been instrumental since Sept. 11, 2001, and AAPA sincerely appreciates his strong leadership and support," said Mr. Nagle. Introducing the senator will be Port of Longview (Wash.) Executive Director Ken O'Hollaren, who is AAPA's 2008 Chairman of the Board. "Sen. Byrd's priorities include maintaining a strong national defense and strengthening our homeland security," Mr. O'Hollaren remarked. "I also give him accolades for steadfast support in maintaining and upgrading the nation's federal navigation system. He recognized early in his tenure that America's waterways and ports are the backbone of the transportation system and critically important to the nation's economic well-being. In his home state of West Virginia, he worked tirelessly and successfully for the improvement of navigation infrastructure and in Congress, worked just as hard for America's rivers and seaports."
Each year, AAPA presents its "Port Person of the Year" award to an individual who has made significant contributions to the port industry. Recent award recipients include: Panamanian President Martin Torrijos, 2007; U.S. Sen. Susan M. Collins (R-ME), 2006; U.S. Transporta¬tion Secretary Norman Mineta, 2005; U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), 2004; U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN), 2003; U.S. Trade Rep. Robert B. Zoellick, 2002; U.S. Sen. John Breaux (D-LA), 2001; and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), 2000. The Washington People's Luncheon is the capstone event for AAPA's annual Spring Conference. Conference speakers will include Deputy U.S. Trade Representative John Veroneau, discussing trade agreements in the Western Hemisphere; Canadian Ambassador Michael Wilson, discussing North American competitiveness in the global market; and a panel comprising National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission Vice Chairman Jack Schenedorf, Panamanian Embassy Commercial Counselor Diego Ferrer, and Mexico's Secretary of Communications and Transportation, César Patricio Reyes Roel, discussing the importance of making freight mobility a national priority in countries throughout the Americas. AAPA anticipates that more than 300 legislators, governmental staff mem¬bers and port industry leaders will take part in the two-day conference, which runs March 31-April 1.