Press Release

Governor Supports Container Fee But Delays Signing SB 974

SACRAMENTO (Sept. 6, 2007)  – With hundreds of millions of dollars on the line to combat pollution, the Coalition for Clean Air (CCA) continues to press for passage of the Ports Investment Bill (SB 974) after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he would back the idea of container fees but needed several more months to work on the legislation.

CCA is cautiously optimistic after the governor said yesterday he would “support the concept of SB 974 and want to work together with Senator Lowenthal on the bill so it addresses the future of goods movement while also reducing environmental impacts.” 

The Coalition for Clean Air’s top legislative priority is SB 974 to help relieve congestion and reduce deadly air pollution caused by the ports and freight transport system. “CCA would have preferred that the governor sign the bill this month,” said Martin Schlageter, CCA’s campaign director. “The Governor vetoed this bill last year, and each year another 2,400 Californians die prematurely due to pollution from ports and freight transport. Every delay, means more lives lost. We’re happy the Governor came out in support of the concept. Now we need to make the concept a reality.”

For the second year, CCA has joined with a broad statewide coalition of environmental, health, faith, community and labor groups to support this container fee legislation. These groups are united in their efforts to press the Governor and Lowenthal to approve SB 974 as it was originally conceived.
 
In a statement yesterday, Lowenthal said “I accept the Governor's offer to work together and make SB 974 a reality." (The complete joint statement by the governor and Lowenthal is below.)

Gov. Schwarzenegger and Senator Alan Lowenthal Issue
Statement Regarding Port Container Fee Legislation

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Senator Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) issued the following statement regarding SB 974 port container fee legislation.

"Our ports are an integral component of goods movement in and out of California. I support the concept of SB 974 and want to work together with Senator Lowenthal on the bill so it addresses the future of goods movement while also reducing environmental impacts.  I look forward to working during the fall recess with the Senator, his fellow legislators and all interested parties to craft a solution that will protect California's air quality and also facilitate the goods movement through California," said Governor Schwarzenegger.

"I am pleased that the Governor understands the need to fund air quality improvements and rail infrastructure, especially grade separations.  I accept the Governor's offer to work together and make SB 974 a reality." stated Lowenthal.

SB 974 would impose a fee on all container cargo going in and out of the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland.  The revenue from that fee would fund projects that would alleviate pollution of containerized cargo moved to and from these ports and improve the movement of such cargo in California.

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For more than 35 years, the non-profit Coalition for Clean Air has been committed to restoring clean air to California. With offices in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Fresno, it is dedicated to strengthening the environmental movement by promoting broad-based community involvement, advocating responsible public policy and providing technical expertise.

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