Asm. Gipson Highlights Budget Request Emphasizing Supply Chain Readiness, Draws Support of Port Authorities and LA Harbor Workers

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - (March 20, 2026) - Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson) called for the state government to support the eleven California deepwater ports and the supply chain readiness needs of California's future by including $1 billion tied to a coordinated investment strategy in the FY27 budget. Emphasizing global suppliers' need for predictable and sustained investments, Gipson and Los Angeles County partners convened stakeholders at the Los Angeles Harbor, overlooking the San Pedro Bay containing the largest ports in the United States.

"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," said Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson (D-Carson). "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. I am glad to have my budget letter supported by seven of my colleagues on the Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement, as well as the California Association of Port Authorities (CAPA)." Gipson emphasized that ports are foundational to the state as well as the national economy, and strong support for the $1 billion ask comes from those who know our working ports today.

"California's ports are vital to the State economy, the nation's transportation system and the global supply chain," said Dr. Noel Hacegaba, CAPA President and CEO of the Port of Long Beach. "As geopolitical and trade tensions reshape the global supply chain, it's more important than ever to make California's ports more efficient, reliable and resilient. We are grateful to Assemblymember Gipson for leading this effort to ensure California's ports have the resources necessary to grow our economic impact and support more good-paying jobs as we continue to lead the transition to zero emissions operations."

"California's ports are essential gateways for global trade and major economic engines for our state," said Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles. "Strategic investments in infrastructure and modernization will help our ports handle growing cargo volume, deploy new sustainable technologies, and sustain the high-quality jobs that support communities across California."

"The $80 million in funding the Port of Hueneme received in 2024 from the state's Port & Freight Infrastructure Program was a game-changer," said Kristin Decas, Port of Hueneme CEO and Port Director. "We are now ready to build on that momentum. The Port of Hueneme alone submitted over $1.5 billion in the SCAG Regional Transportation Plan to expand infrastructure capacity, modernize terminals, and further deploy clean technologies that benefit our workforce, community, and California. We applaud Assemblymember Gipson for his leadership on behalf of California ports."

"California's ports are the backbone of our state's economy, and this $1 billion investment would deliver the infrastructure, workforce, and zero-emission technology our ports need to stay competitive in a rapidly shifting global trade environment," said California Association of Port Authorities (CAPA) Executive Director Martha Miller. "CAPA is proud to stand alongside Assemblymember Gipson and his colleagues in calling on Sacramento to make a generational commitment to California's eleven deepwater ports."

"The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) is working to pursue the gold standard of versatile, reliable, and clean marine terminal operations - human-operated, zero-emission cargo handling equipment," said ILWU Local 13 President Gary Herrera. "On behalf of our approximately 60,000 members and dependents, we applaud Assemblymember Gipson for his vision in advocating for this critical investment, which emphasizes a balance between economic justice and environmental justice, and we strongly encourage the rest of our leaders in the CA Legislature to do the same. Future development that promotes the growth of cargo volumes and jobs in the ports while eliminating pollution for neighboring communities is a triple win!"

A coalition of advocates who see the need for strategic investments plans to ensure that California's deepwater economic engines are not overlooked by engaging our leaders in the Legislature - including Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) and Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Oxnard), Chairs of the Assembly Budget Committee and the Subcommittee No. 4, respectively.

"Every day, as opportunities and challenges alike arise overseas, I see no infrastructure need more important to a state that holds the world's fourth-largest economy than an investment in our ports," said Gipson. "They open for business to every business, but they need us. Across our economy, it's clear what Sacramento can do to advance the work the ports do, and I call on my colleagues to make this year's budget a transformative one for California's port leaders and workers."