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Senator Requests GAO Report on Impacts of West Coast Port Disruption

Apr 16, 2015

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) this week submitted a request for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on the service disruptions that occurred at the West Coast ports due to the “work slowdown” during the contract negotiations. Fischer requested the GAO specifically examine the following questions:

  • What are the implications of disruptions at West Coast Ports for various industries (e.g., agriculture, retail and manufacturing)?  Particularly interested in learning of any increased transportation costs, inventory shortfalls, or market share losses.
  • How have shifts to alternative transportation modes, including truck, rail, inland waterways, or aviation affected industry supply chains?
  • What are the costs of regional changes in freight movements due to the West Coast ports slowdown, including shifts to southern or eastern U.S. ports and Canadian and Mexican ports?
  • What is the current condition of infrastructure at our West Coast ports?  What is the status of its ability to withstand future disruptions to port operations?

If the GAO agrees to the request and conducts this study it could provide information that will support efforts to enact changes to prevent or mitigate future disruptions at our nation’s ports.