Called the "America: Keep It Moving" campaign, AAPA's U.S. members in the coming months will coordinate actions to inform policymakers, and those who influence policy, about the job-creating power of U.S. ports as the Trump Administration and Congress consider plans for national infrastructure improvements and funding.

“The nation’s seaports serve a vital role in U.S. job creation, economic prosperity and international competitiveness,” said AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle. “To help American businesses compete in overseas markets, the Administration and Congress must make investments today to build a 21st century seaport infrastructure.”

The health of U.S. port infrastructure affects not only coastal, Great Lakes and river communities, but has a nationwide impact. Port activity supports 23 million American jobs and generates $321bn in federal, state and local tax revenue each year. According to a 2015 Martin Associates report, the total value of economic activity related to America’s ports is $4.6tr, representing 26 percent of the U.S. economy — and projected to reach 60 percent by 2030.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce notes that one of every of three acres on American farmland is planted for export markets, and nearly 12 million jobs are supported by exports nationwide, including a quarter of all manufacturing jobs.

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