Barragán Statement on EPA San Pedro Bay Ports Case Study

Press Release

Congresswoman Nannette Diaz Barragán made the following statement on the case study released today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognizing the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach for their community engagement on reducing emissions and setting a goal of zero-emissions for trucks and cargo equipment at the ports, and encouraging other ports to follow suit.

"The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have taken important steps to work with local stakeholders in the community to reduce diesel emissions. They should be applauded for those efforts. Still, the extremely high rates of cancer, asthma and other respiratory illnesses in the communities around the ports shows we have a long way to go.

"There is a lot of work to do to meet the goals laid out in the Clean Air Action Plan for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. One important necessity to reach these goals -- in Southern California and across the country -- is federal support for ports to quickly deploy new zero-emissions technology. This is why I introduced the Climate Smart Ports Act to provide federal investment in zero-emissions equipment at America's ports.

"There are billions of dollars in investment for greening ports in President Biden's American Jobs Plan. It's a great start. The need is even greater. I'll be pushing for as much investment as possible to clean up our ports and reduce the burden of pollution on frontline communities in my district and across the country.

"Nearly 40 percent of Americans live within three miles of a port. We owe it to them to provide the resources and take the steps that will reduce toxic emissions in their air."

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