The Hill News

President Obama’s recent speech outlining his plan for the American Jobs Act focused on several tactics that he believes will put people back to work and get our economy back on track.  However, as the U.S. continues to confront the need for both economic austerity and job creation for the 9.1 percent of unemployed Americans, one of the nation’s oldest and largest economic drivers â€" seaports â€" continues to be overlooked.
By increasing our investment in America’s seaports, we can create high-paying, sustainable jobs that will put Americans back to work. Just last year, U.S. exports supported an estimated 9.2 million jobs. This means that for every $1 billion of exported goods,more than 5,000 jobs are supported.
Responsible for handling more than 99 percent of our country’s overseas cargo, seaports are America’s gateway to international trade and economic prosperity. However, many land and water connections are outdated and insufficient, thereby im! pacting the ports’ ability to move cargo into and out of the U.S. efficiently.

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