Congressman Bob Filner's Forum
STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN BOB FILNER
before the
PACIFIC COAST ASSOCIATION OF PORTS AUTHORITIES
San Diego, California
August 31, 1998
"A REAL PORT FOR SAN DIEGO--THE KEY TO TRADE OPPORTUNITIES ON THE PACIFIC RIM"

I am honored to welcome you to San Diego--"America's Finest City". I hope you enjoy your stay with us and I hope you encourage others in your home cities and countries to visit and do business with us.

Many of you are probably not aware that San Diego is America's sixth largest city. That's right, only five other American cities are larger than San Diego.

Our city has long suffered under the shadow of bigger, fancier and more exotic American cities. However, I believe that our geographic location on the Pacific Rim and a revitalized Port of San Diego are the keys to change this situation and demonstrate our real capabilities to the world.

The good work of our Port Commissioners, has resulted in more commercial activity. However, despite these efforts, the port's vast potential for commerce remains untapped.

San Diego's future economic growth and our status as a trade center depend on harnessing that potential and developing a true, working port. The key to that working commercial port for us is direct freight railroad connections to the rest of our nation.

Fortunately, an abandoned rail line between San Diego and the U.S. transcontinental railroad system can be rehabilitated and provide direct rail connections to the eastern United States. With this re- opened rail link, the Port of San Diego can become a real center of commercial activity.

Shippers would now have the option of two ports in Southern California. And re-establishing this rail link to eastern markets and manufacturing centers will transform the economy of this entire region!

I have been working with our Port Commissioners to assess the infrastructure needs to improve our port's viability. As a Member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee in Congress, I ensured that these needs were addressed in the recently approved transportation bill, TEA-21 (the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century).

As a result of our efforts, this legislation now includes funds to facilitate these trade and commerce related needs:

  • an intermodal staging yard for the rail line;
  • a "border infrastructure" fund to build NAFTA trade-related projects (such as SR 905 and the train);
  • a highway connection to our commercial border crossing with Mexico--State Route 905;
  • a restructured federally guaranteed loan program for large rail rehabilitation projects;
  • a grant program to re-furbish railroads.

    Combined, these elements provide the infrastructure base necessary to transform our port into a vibrant, working commercial center.

    With this infrastructure in place, San Diego can achieve its rightful status as a world class trade center with an open door to the great future of Pacific Rim commerce.

    When you leave this conference, please remember this: San Diego is more than a beautiful community with superb beaches, spectacular weather and a wealth of diverse cultures.

    We are a growing metropolis eager and willing to seize the opportunities and challenges of international trade and commerce that our geographic location offers us.

    And with a true working port, San Diego will help lead America's trade expansion throughout the ever-growing markets of the Pacific Rim region well into the 21st Century.

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