Nestande Appointed to Assembly Committee on Ports

Assemblyman Brian Nestande (R-Palm Desert) was appointed to the Select Committee on Ports by Speaker John A. Perez on Friday, October 12th. The committee focuses on ports, infrastructure, and trade. California ports support more than a million cargo-related jobs and countless more through inter-connected industries such as construction and manufacturing.

"I am honored to join this committee and take a more proactive role in preserving and expanding port infrastructure and trade-based jobs," said Nestande.   "The Southern California economy is heavily reliant on trade. We have to invest in port infrastructure to attract new trade and move legislation that provides tax incentives for importers and exporters in California markets."

Riverside County recently passed legislation to build a close working relationship with Southern California's ports to enable locally produced products to be sent overseas quicker.

Tom Freeman, Commissioner of the Office of Foreign Trade for the County of Riverside issued the following statement regarding Nestande's appointment: "Speaker Perez's appointment of Assemblyman Nestande to this important select committee is great news for Riverside County, our workers, and our multi-billion dollar export industry. The Assemblyman is already working with the Board of Supervisors and this office on trade policy, port improvement for international competitiveness, and will complement the work that Committee Chair, Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) is already doing in this important sector of our economy."

Nestande recently advocated for a bill, AB 2656, that would provide tax credits to importers and exporters who do one of three things: increase cargo through California ports, increase in full-time employees hired in the state ports industries, or incur capital costs for cargo facilities based here. The credit would be available for five years.

Nestande stated, "If Southern California does not act now to invest in our ports we will lose trade-related business to ports in other states and other countries. As the 11th largest exporter in the world we must make this a priority. Across the nation states are investing billions to upgrade their infrastructure to attract new trade. The competition will only become more fierce. California must step up to the table and I look forward to working with the committee to do just that."