[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 7, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H56]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           PORT NEGOTIATIONS

  (Ms. HAHN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my hopes that the 
negotiations between the Pacific Maritime Association and our dock 
workers will improve quickly with the help of a Federal mediator.
  Resolving differences between the ILWU and the PMA is essential to 
the United States' economy because our west coast ports support 5 
million jobs across the country and handle two-thirds of all America's 
trade. This represents 12.5 percent of our GDP.
  Port workers have been without a contract for 7 months under tense 
and uncertain conditions. Reaching a fair agreement is urgent for 
workers and their families, for communities, for our businesses that 
depends on goods moving through these ports, and indeed for our 
Nation's prosperity.
  As cochair of the bipartisan Port Caucus, along with my colleague Ted 
Poe, I will do all I can to help our ports operate smoothly and keep 
Americans working.

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