Harder Applauds Progress at California Ports & Urges Passage of Bipartisan Bills to Keep Shipping Costs Down

WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) applauded the recent progress at California's ports set to speed up deliveries and bring down the cost of shipping nationwide. Getting shipping costs under control will help bring down the costs of goods as Central Valley families get ready for Christmas shopping and travel.

"Prices in the Valley are out of control and the situation at our ports is a huge reason why," said Rep. Harder. "I'm happy to see both the multinational shipping companies and the Department of Transportation finally doing what's necessary to get our ports moving again. Now it's time to pass the bipartisan bills I'm leading to get this situation fixed once and for all. With Christmas around the corner, we can't let our neighbors struggle with soaring prices any longer."

In order to speed up container pickups and bring down shipping costs, this week:

• The companies operating the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will eliminate fees for night and weekend pickup of containers;
• CMA CGM, one of the largest international carriers in the world, will provide $100 discounts on containers that are picked up quickly and $200 discounts on containers that are picked up during the night or on the weekend;
• The Department of Transportation will extend flexibility on the number of hours truck drivers can safely drive through the end of February.

Rep. Harder has been laser focused on getting our ports moving again in order to lower prices for Central Valley families. He is leading a bipartisan bill to put the US Military in charge of the situation and backing a bipartisan bill to combat China's growing influence over international shipping. He also led a letter with 78 bipartisan colleagues urging the Department of Transportation to allow 18 to 20 year old with commercial trucking licenses to be allowed to drive interstate.

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