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TO RECOGNIZE THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE PORTS AUTHORITY AND THE MARITIME COMMUNITY FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY, FOR THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE PORTS PLAY IN ADVANCING SOUTH CAROLINA'S POSITION IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, FOR THE EXPEDITIOUS PURSUIT OF NEW PORT CAPACITY, AND FOR THE RENEWED COMMITMENT TO COOPERATION AND INVOLVEMENT BY MANY IN THE MARITIME COMMUNITY TO FOCUS OUR PORT SYSTEM ON REGAINING MARKET SHARE FOR OUR STATE.
Whereas, more than seven hundred companies from every county in South Carolina import and export products through the State Ports Authority's terminals, providing a direct link between our state's economic health and the health of our ports; and
Whereas, waterborne commerce through the State Ports Authority stimulates jobs for more than two hundred sixty thousand South Carolinians who earn almost twelve billion dollars in wages annually; and
Whereas, South Carolina's ports generate forty-five billion dollars for the state's economy and produces one and one-half billion dollars in state and local taxes every year; and
Whereas, products valued at sixty billion dollars are exported and imported around the world from our state's ports every year; and
Whereas, the success of our port system has contributed significantly to South Carolina's global reputation. South Carolina's ports rank sixth in the entire country in value of goods shipped; and
Whereas, with business strategies focusing on global customers and suppliers and increased market share, a strong and successful State Ports Authority with cooperation and support from the local maritime community will play an even greater role in maintaining existing jobs and attracting better employment opportunities to South Carolina in the years ahead; and
Whereas, the South Carolina State Ports Authority was created by the General Assembly in 1942 to contribute to the economic development of the State of South Carolina by fostering and stimulating waterborne commerce and the shipment of freight; and
Whereas, over its sixty-six year history, the State Ports Authority with the support of the maritime community has set the standards for stewardship among United States ports; and
Whereas, the expeditious development of a new port terminal at the former Navy Base in Charleston is essential to the long-term competitiveness of South Carolina's industries and her commercial maritime community; and
Whereas, the new port terminal at the Navy Base is permitted, under construction and projected to open in 2014, concurrent with completion of the multi-billion dollar expansion, widening, and deepening of the Panama Canal; and
Whereas, the evaluation and progress toward development of new port capacity both in existing seaports and on the Savannah River in Jasper County are critical to the state's economy; and
Whereas, numerous organizations from across the State including the State Chamber of Commerce, the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance, the Maritime Association of South Carolina, and a coalition of Urban Chambers of Commerce, recognize the contribution of the State Ports Authority and its maritime partner. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly recognize the South Carolina State Ports Authority and the maritime community for their contributions to the state's economy, for the significant role ports play in advancing South Carolina's position in the global economy, for the expeditious pursuit of new port capacity, and for the renewed commitment to cooperation and involvement by many in the maritime community to focus our port system on regaining market share for our State.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to John F. Hassell III, Interim President and CEO of the South Carolina State Ports Authority.
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