Rep. LaMalfa Urges Resolution to West Coast Port Slowdown

Washington, DC – Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) today attended a bipartisan press conference urging a swift resolution to the slowdown occurring at the West Coast Port due to ongoing negotiations between the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshoreman Warehouse Union (ILWU).

"The slowing down of these ports impacts our entire country—it is a bipartisan, multi-regional issue," LaMalfa stated. "We have to battle to get market share. When we lose market share, it is really difficult to get it back in a global economy especially with agricultural prices being so competitive. As you have heard from my colleagues today, the impact stretches beyond the west coast, and across our nation. The lack of conclusive negotiations hurts not only the agricultural community, it hurts all our neighbors down the street. Ask yourselves: Do you really want the President and Congress to have to get involved? No. Now is the time to resolve this disagreement."

At a hearing before the House Committee on Agriculture earlier this week, LaMalfa discussed the labor dispute with Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, highlighting the devastating impacts it is having on rural economies across the nation and urged the Secretary to encourage both parties to find a quick resolution to the ongoing negotiations.

Video of LaMalfa speaking at the press conference may be found here

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.

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