The Webb Weekly - January 18, 2011
Statement
Norfolk Forum: Hampton Roads and the Global Economy
Last week I was privileged to speak at the historic Norfolk Forum in Chrysler Hall. I discussed trends in global security and trade, and the unique role Hampton Roads can play in America's economic resurgence.
I raised the importance of connecting more vigorously with East and Southeast Asia, a region that is exploding economically with 34 of the 50 top ports in the world. The main guarantor of stability there is the presence of the United States military.
How does that fit into Hampton Roads?
Over the last ten years, Department of Defense spending in Virginia has nearly doubled to $57 billion in 2009, which made the state the top recipient of direct DOD expenditures that year. At the same time, the overall size of our Navy has been contracting for decades from 930 battle ships in 1968 to 287 today. While Norfolk will always be a preeminent Navy Town, we must plan wisely to make full use of its competitive advantages in the future.
There's enormous potential for what is going on in Asia to directly, positively impact the growth of Hampton Roads.
The expansion of the Panama Canal in 2014 will bring New Panamax Freighters to the East Coast which can carry roughly three times the current cargo load.
The Port of Virginia is the only East Coast port currently suited to handle these new cargo ships. Coupled with the new Heartland Corridor, you can conceive of increased trade coming from East Asia, through the Panama Canal, up to Hampton Roads and out into the American heartland, and visa versa.
I proposed at the Forum that we need to find ways to re-incentivize our manufacturing base in America. We need to make it profitable to keep good jobs here in the United States and to make it unprofitable to ship our jobs overseas. We need to take action against unfair trade practices in places like China.
Although China has a high net trade balance with us, they don't have the highest balance of trade in the world. Germany does. They do this with quality products. They take care of their people. They export and they service the exports. The Germans do this with mid-sized corporations; they find niche manufacturing markets.
We can do that here in America.
As I stated at the Forum, we can maintain our vital Department of Defense presence here in Hampton Roads. We can rebuild America's manufacturing base in innovative ways that allow a quality workforce. We can position this region at the very center of the future growth of our country.
Touring the Virginia Port Authority
Last week I also visited the Port of Virginia, which ranks 10th among the nation's ports in total trade volume.
I have worked in concert with the other members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation to upgrade our basic transportation infrastructure, including nearly $3 million in federal funding for Craney Island. In addition, an $83 million federal investment, along with state and private funds, enabled the creation of the Heartland Corridor, a more direct path for double-stacked cargo containers through the Appalachian Mountains. This shortens the route for bigger freight trains between Norfolk and Ohio by 250 miles and 24 hours.
These preparations are strategically positioning the Port of Virginia for impending expansion of the Panama Canal. The expansion is expected to shift up to 25% of the trade from the West Coast to the East Coast.
Hampton Roads is the only East Coast port already suited to handle the New Panamax ships, with its depths of 50 feet. The port's ship-to-shore gantry cranes are the largest in the world. The Port of Virginia expects to receive as much as 20 percent of the additional cargo arriving at East Coast ports.
Expanding on its traditional military roles, Hampton Roads stands to profit from increased international trade with its robust intermodal system for waterborne, rail, and road transportation. I am continuing to work with Virginia's government and industry leaders to position the region to play a key role in America's economic resurgence.
Bringing Fairness to the Criminal Justice System
Last Friday in Fairfax, I co-hosted a national forum on "Undoing the Effects of Mass Incarceration," organized with George Mason University and the Prison Fellowship. There, I addressed the critical need for criminal justice reform in our country and my efforts to tackle this national problem.
Today more than 7 million people are under the supervision of our criminal justice system, including 2.3 million in America's jails and prisons -- the highest rate of reported incarceration anywhere in the world. However, gang activity continues to threaten many communities and Americans report feeling less safe than they did a few years ago.
As a nation we spend $68 billion every year just to lock up people, many of whom are non-violent offenders. We lose billions more in lost productivity due to ineffective re-entry programs. The high costs of incarceration divert scarce financial resources from the very programs that help police fight crime.
By working together, we can be smarter about whom we incarcerate, improve public safety outcomes, make better use of taxpayer dollars, and bring greater fairness to our criminal justice system.
To achieve this, I introduced the National Criminal Justice Commission Act in 2009, which would initiate a full review of the nation's criminal justice system and offer recommendations to Congress for reform. The bill was endorsed by organizations from across the political spectrum, including major law enforcement and civil rights groups. The House of Representatives approved the bill last year with overwhelming bipartisan support. As the new Congress begins, I am committed to seeing this important legislation signed into law.
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