This past week I had the privilege of attending the National Council of State Legislators, (NCSL) annual meeting in Boston. I serve on the NCSL Standing Committee on Transportation with legislators from all over the US and for 3 full days we held committee meetings and hearings on a wide range of topics such as:
US Energy Policy recommendations,
Hazardous Material Transportation,
Motor Carrier Regulation,
Waterways and Ports,
The importance of Rails to the Agriculture and Energy Sectors,
Rail Security and Safety,
The Real ID.
I learned that the increase use of waterways to transport freight has many benefits for our transportation system. By placing cargo containers on a barge we reduce the wear and tear on our highways, bridges, and railroads. A single barge can carry 456 containers or the equivalent of a 2 lane road a 1 ½ mile long with semi-trucks lined up bumper to bumper. The same barge uses less fuel to move all that freight than a single semi truck pulling his one container.
Boston harbor is over 350 years old, the industry employs over 34,000 people and is responsible for a
$2 billion economy. 95% of all trade imported into the US comes in on a ship so that leaves the rest to come in on an airplane or the highway system.
Following the tragic incident of 911, the FAA closed down the aviation industry for a week, if the same attack happened in a major port the facility could be closed indefinitely. Yet fully 90% of all Federal Security dollars go to the aviation industry. Currently less than 4% of these cargo ship containers are inspected and the Federal government wants to increase that to 100%. And you think the airports checking your luggage is a pain!
60% of all US imports come from China, who by the way intends to build 100 airports within the next 5 years. We took 3 years to do the EPA study to increase the size of the port of Anchorage that will cover 135 acres and cost $732 million. By 2015 the Panama Canal is proposed to be doubled in size.
The US Coast Guard is responsible for the security of our shores. They maintain over 50,000 navigation aids, oversee over 1 million vessels, responded to 32,000 calls for assistance, rescued 5,500 sailors, and conducted 115,800 vessel inspections. They have 39,312 active duty personnel, the same size as the NYC police department. The Coast Guard also has 8,100 Reservists, 7,738 civilian employees, and 28,332 volunteers.
Security is compounded around the port because of overlapping jurisdictions of the US government, States, Municipalities, Military, and private ownership.
I found it interesting that some ships are so large that they have to come in at high tide and get off loaded before the tide goes out or they risk becoming grounded. This fact puts a strain on the facilities to get the ships containers inspected, offloaded and placed on trains or trucks to continue on their way.
I heard a speech by the first woman to be elected Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. She provided updates from the national perspective on many topics to include health care, immigration, border security, education, and operations in IRAQ.
I heard a presentation from 2-time Pulitzer Prize winner author, David McCullough. David is the author that gave us, Truman, 1776, John Adams, and many other works of a historical perspective. His talk entitled “ “Our Place in History” focused on what impact we are all having on history. That impact could be significant whether you are a public servant, inventor, parent, soldier, or just a common citizen who goes to work each day to provide for your family.
Mr. McCullough stressed the importance of qualified teachers being supported by parents, given necessary tools by the administrators, and given respect by the students. He made a point of the importance of the parents in becoming engaged with the education and instructions of their children. Facilities are important, but motivated teachers that love what they do and can convey that love and passion to their students and students that openly accept this instruction is the key to our future as a country. I think we can all agree with this concept.
In the upcoming weeks I am scheduled to attend several meetings around the 75th District and in the State Capitol. If you see me please come up an introduce yourself and lets get acquainted. I consider it an honor and privilege to be your representative in Topeka and I want to know what is on your mind. I am currently working on many issues of a private nature with many of you and I hope we can get some positive resolution soon.
Let me know what you think, contact me at home 1115 Rim Rock Road, El Dorado 67042, 316-321-2087, or email to johng@carlisleinc.net, grange@house.state.ks.us or my website, www.johngrange.net. The legislative session begins January 14th 2008.
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