California Assembly member Mike Gipson (D-Carson) believes the state’s fiscal year 2027 budget should include $1 billion and a coordinated investment strategy to support the state’s 11 deepwater ports and supply chain readiness.
“Today I urge California to step up to the import and export challenges of our time and make a significant 2027 spending commitment to ports, including five investment categories,” Gipson said. “Activities at ports like the Port of Los Angeles in my Assembly District support 3.1 million jobs, generate $134 billion in worker income, and add $38 billion in tax revenue. Lately, however, the competitiveness of our cities and state sits at risk, especially without more vital tools to assist in modernization.”
Gipson said ports are foundational to the state as well as the national economy and emphasized global suppliers’ need for predictable and sustained investments.
The proposal has the support of the California Association of Port Authorities and seven members of the assembly’s Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement.
A coalition of advocates for strategic investments plans that ensure California’s deepwater ports are not overlooked by the legislature have been engaging with lawmakers including Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), Assembly Budget Committee chairman, and Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Oxnard), Subcommittee No. 4. chairman.