Congressman Robert Garcia Welcomes Secretary Pete Buttigieg to the Port of Long Beach for Pier B Groundbreaking Ceremony
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) welcomed Secretary Buttigieg to the Port of Long Beach for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Pier B Port Project, which will complete the North Rail Yard Expansion and the South Rail Yard Expansion at the Port of Long Beach. Last year, Congressman Garcia helped secure over $283 million in federal grant money for the completion of the project, which is estimated to create over 1,000 new jobs directly in our community and over 13,000 jobs nationwide. The project will connect the Port with inland rail yards, enhancing on-dock rail operations at one of the nation’s busiest container ports. This will significantly reduce truck traffic and harmful emissions while improving safety, local congestion, and yielding nationwide economic benefits.
“This project is a homerun for good jobs, clean air, and a strong supply chain. As Mayor, we worked to electrify and green our port, and this major investment will do just that. In Congress, we have fought for this project every single day, and I’m grateful to President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg for investing in Long Beach and the region,” said Congressman Robert Garcia.
“Today, work starts on a rail network that triples cargo volume, keeps costs down, and reduces pollution—and it's all because of the historic funding made possible by the Biden-Harris Administration," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "Through projects like America's Green Gateway and the hundreds of other supply chain improvements we’re making across the country, we're making our supply chains more robust and resilient in the face of any potential future disruptions."
Congressman Garcia has been committed to improving port infrastructure both during his time in Congress and as former Mayor of Long Beach. In May, Congressman Garcia joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) to introduce the BUILD GREEN Infrastructure and Jobs Act to electrify and modernize the nation’s transportation infrastructure. Congressman Garcia also joined Senator Alex Padilla to introduce the Clean Shipping Act of 2023, which sets a path to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from all ocean shipping companies that do business with the United States. Garcia is the co-chair of the Congressional PORTS Caucus. As Mayor, Congressman Garcia worked with the Port of Long Beach to navigate the historic surge in volume in freight in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
###
