Letter to Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House -

Letter

Dear Speaker Pelosi,

We write as the representatives of the Port of Long Beach, and the Port of Los Angeles. These
two facilities represent the point of entry for 40 percent of all containers to the United States, and
have faced an unprecedented surge in the volume of cargo. Through August, Los Angeles has
moved 30% more and Long Beach over 20% more containers compared to the previous year.
While the efficient flow of goods is essential for American businesses and consumers alike, this
increase in traffic has undeniable impacts on frontline communities which we are proud to
represent. We are particularly concerned by findings that emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) are
roughly 40% higher than 2019 levels.

While we are determined to do everything possible to reduce the number of ships at anchor off
the coast, a key source of the emissions increase and a symptom of critical freight bottlenecks,
we are mindful that sweeping, long term investments in emissions reduction are needed to
protect the communities which are exposed to the environmental impacts of port activity.
We urge you to retain the strongest possible provisions of the Build Back Better Act, passed by
the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committees, to
make these investments possible.

These include:

* Grants to Reduce Air Pollution at Ports (Sec. 30102), which provides $3.5 billion for the
purchase and installation of zero-emission technology at ports, and for the development
of climate action plans at ports.
* Port Infrastructure and Supply Chain Resilience (Sec. 110026), which provides $2.5
billion to the Maritime Administration, to support supply chain resilience, reduce
congestion, and reduce the environmental impact of ports.
* Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles (Sec. 30101), which provides $5 billion to replace heavy
vehicles with zero emission vehicles.
* Transportation Electrification (Sec. 30445), which provides $6 billion for electric
medium- and heavy-duty vehicle supply equipment and shipside or shoreside
electrification for ground support equipment at ports.
* Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants (Sec. 30204), which provides $5 billion
for community led projects to address disproportionate environmental and public health
harms related to climate change.
* Diesel Emissions Reductions (Sec. 30105), which provides $170 million for Diesel
Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grants, with $100 million specifically targeting goods
movement facilities, and $20 million prioritized to disadvantaged and low-income
communities.
* Technology Innovation and Climate Resilience in Maritime Sector (Sec. 110021), to
provide $100 million to support investments in research and development of new and
emerging technologies to reduce carbon emissions, reduce vessel noise pollution, and
improve the climate resiliency of the marine shipping and maritime industry.

We thank you for your commitment to environmental justice, and to your strong support for the
full passage of President Biden's agenda, including the Build Back Better Act and the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In the face of the climate crisis, and unprecedented
conditions impacting vulnerable communities, we cannot afford inaction.

Sincerely,

Alan Lowenthal
Member of Congress

Nanette Diaz Barragan
Member of Congress

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