PORT CHIEFS FIGHT NEW FEE PROPOSAL.Byline: Lisa Friedman Washington Bureau Rep. Dana Rohrabacher Dana Tyron Rohrabacher (born June 21, 1947, in Coronado, California) is an American politician, who has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1989, currently representing California's At-large congressional district. , R-Huntington Beach, pitted himself against Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. port commissioners and the shipping industry Thursday with a controversial proposal to tax container cargo coming into the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . The Local Port Discretionary User Fee Authority bill aims to recoup some of the $6 billion to $7 billion port officials nationwide say they will need to strengthen security. But the American Association American Association refers to one of the following professional baseball leagues:
``Ultimately, American consumers pay these taxes in the form of higher prices,'' Robin Lanier, executive director of the Waterfront Coalition, which represents shippers and transportation providers, told the House Transportation subcommittee on infrastructure. ``The last thing we need are new taxes and fees that further drive up costs and which also affect workers in our export industries.'' The Port of Los Angeles The Port of Los Angeles is located on San Pedro Bay in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles, approximately 20 miles (30 km) south of downtown. Also called Los Angeles Harbor and WORLDPORT LA also opposes Rohrabacher's bill. Commissioners for the Port of Long Beach have not taken a position. Officials from both ports, which together bear the load of 43 percent of the nation's cargo exports and imports, have repeatedly urged Congress for more money to fund post-9-11 security needs like water sensors, radiation detectors and baggage screening equipment. The Port of Los Angeles has requested about $68 million in security funding since Sept. 11, 2001, and has received about $4 million. The Port of Long Beach has requested about $65 million and received about $18 million. Rohrabacher has proposed that instead of coming to Congress for the money, ports should foot the bill themselves by charging importers a fee on containers. He dismissed concerns from port officials who said the measure would drive business to Mexico or Canada. ``Competition is good, even for ports,'' he said. Lawmakers also considered a bill by Rep. Doug Ose Douglas Arlo "Doug" Ose (born June 27 1955) is an American politician. He was born in Sacramento, California and was educated at the University of California, Berkeley. , R-Sacramento, that would use a portion of U.S. Customs fees to pay for port security. Port leaders, including those in Los Angeles, support his proposal. Lisa Friedman, (202) 662-8731 lisa.friedman(at)langnews.com |
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