Following Baltimore Key Bridge Collapse, Senator Reverend Warnock Urges Bipartisan, Robust Support for Georgia’s Ports from State, Federal Leaders

In separate letters to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Assistant Secretary Michael Connor, Senator Reverend Warnock urged deployment of all necessary additional resources to support Georgia's ports during this disruptive time for maritime trade and commerce

Following the March collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) expectedseveral car, truck and tractor shipments to be diverted to the Brunswick port

This month, the Port of Brunswick expects to receive an additional 17,000 units of cargo above its 70,000 monthly average - LINK

The Port of Savannah is the busiest container port in the Southeast and is the second most globally connected port in the U.S.

ICYMI from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Warnock: Georgia ports need more resources after Baltimore bridge wreck

Senator Reverend Warnock to Governor Kemp: "Georgia's leaders at the federal and state level have a long history of bipartisan support for Georgia's ports and their role as an economic engine for the state and the rest of the country"

Senator Reverend Warnock to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: "I respectfully request that you deploy the necessary resources to support the operation of Georgia's ports during this disruptive time, including by ensuring the Port of Brunswick is returned to its full authorized dimensions"

Washington, D.C. - Today, following the recent collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge that halted operations at the Port of Baltimore, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) urged state and federal leaders to deploy all necessary additional resources to support the Georgia Ports Authority's (GPA) operations during this disruptive time for maritime trade and commerce. In separate letters to Governor Brian Kemp (R-GA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Assistant Secretary Michael Connor, Senator Warnock highlighted how Georgia's ports in Brunswick and Savannah are well-positioned to temporarily accept additional cargo and help minimize disruptions to the supply chains that historically rely on the Port of Baltimore, thanks to an influx of federal investments through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Congressional appropriations championed by Senator Warnock.

"Georgia's ports will need cooperation and support from all levels of government as they manage the additional traffic diverted from Baltimore. I know we share a commitment to supporting Georgia's ports and the economic activity they bring to the entire state of Georgia, such as through our shared efforts to further expand the Port of Savannah," Senator Warnock wrote to Governor Kemp. "That is why I hope we can work together to support Georgia's ports during this disruptive time, including by deploying additional state and federal resources as necessary to support their operations."

"As the nation's leader in roll-on, roll-off and automotive cargo traffic, the Port of Baltimore plays an essential role in America's robust automotive industry.Any long-term disruption to the nation's automotive supply chain could threaten a critical $1 trillion industry and the 9.7 million jobs it supports, including Georgia's own burgeoning vehicle and battery manufacturing economy.As reported by WJCL-Savannah, the GPA expects the Port of Brunswick - the nation's second leading automotive port - to receive some of the automotive cargo diverted from the Port of Baltimore during its temporary closure, with the Port of Savannah on standby for any container traffic overflows," the Senator continued.

In both letters, Senator Warnock also highlighted how federal investments made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law help address the consequences of accidents and threats to supply chains like the Key Bridge collapse:

"Until the Port of Baltimore reopens, America will look to Georgia to ensure our vital automotive supply chain experiences minimal disruptions. This is exactly why I was proud to champion the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This historic legislation invests over $17 billion in the country's ports and waterways to prepare our nation's ports to be resilient in the face of unexpected supply chain disruptions. In just the first three years of this legislation, the Port of Brunswick received two grants totaling nearly $30 million to increase both automotive and agricultural capacity at the port.I also fought to include more than $80 million for Georgia's ports in the 2024 government funding bill, including over $37 million to expand capacity and efficiency at the Port of Brunswick," wrote Senator Warnock. "Thanks to each of these substantial federal investments, the Port of Brunswick is prepared to respond to the temporary closure of the Port of Baltimore and help prevent disruptions to our nation's automotive supply chain."

A longtime advocate for strong federal funding for Georgia's ports, this latest effort follows Senator Warnock's bipartisan, bicameral push with Georgia's full congressional delegation urging officials to study expanding the Port of Savannah to ensure it can continue accommodating increasingly large container vessels. Recently, Senator Warnock also successfully secured $11.3 million for the Brunswick Harbor through the FY '24 government funding bill for modifications to improve the efficiency, cost and reliability of ship traffic in the harbor, as well as $44.7 million for the Savannah Harbor to support operations and maintenance. Additionally, in January 2024, Senator Warnock and U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) announced a $15 million federal grant to the Port of Brunswick for critical infrastructure upgrades, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law championed by both Georgia senators.

Read Senator Warnock's letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers HERE.

Read Senator Warnock's letter to Governor Brian Kemp HERE and text is below:

Dear Governor Kemp:

Thank you again for your October 30, 2023, letter regarding the Georgia Ports Authority's (GPA) effort to study further deepening and widening of the port of Savannah. I was happy to initially respond to your letter on January 3, 2024, and I appreciate our strong partnership to serve the needs of GPA.To that end, I write today following the recent collapse of the Francis Scott Key (Key) Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, and the consequences for Georgia's ports and economy. I respectfully request that you join me in supporting Georgia's ports during this disruptive time for maritime trade and commerce, including by deploying additional resources as necessary to support GPA's operations.

The collapse of the Key Bridge has left us all shaken and praying for the families who lost loved ones in this tragedy, and I am eager to work with my colleagues in Congress to reopen the Port of Baltimore, rebuild the Key Bridge, and help the Baltimore community get back on its feet. However, this process will take time, and it is important that we not let the collapse of Key Bridge and the closure of the Port of Baltimore evolve into a supply chain crisis that harms the Georgia economy. Fortunately, due to an influx of federal investments through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Congressional appropriations, Georgia's ports in Brunswick and Savannah are well-positioned to temporarily accept additional cargo and help minimize disruptions to the supply chains that historically rely on the Port of Baltimore.

Nonetheless, Georgia's ports will need cooperation and support from all levels of government as they manage the additional traffic diverted from Baltimore. I know we share a commitment to supporting Georgia's ports and the economic activity they bring to the entire state of Georgia, such as through our shared efforts to further expand the Port of Savannah. That is why I hope we can work together to support Georgia's ports during this disruptive time, including by deploying additional state and federal resources as necessary to support their operations.

As the nation's leader in roll-on, roll-off and automotive cargo traffic, the Port of Baltimore plays an essential role in America's robust automotive industry. Any long-term disruption to the nation's automotive supply chain could threaten a critical $1 trillion industry and the 9.7 million jobs it supports, including Georgia's own burgeoning vehicle and battery manufacturing economy.As reported by WJCL-Savannah, the GPA expects the Port of Brunswick - the nation's second leading automotive port - to receive some of the automotive cargo diverted from the Port of Baltimore during its temporary closure, with the Port of Savannah on standby for any container traffic overflows.Until the Port Baltimore reopens, America will look to Georgia to ensure our vital automotive supply chain experiences minimal disruptions.

This is exactly why I was proud to champion the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This historic legislation invests over $17 billion in the country's ports and waterways to prepare our nation's ports to be resilient in the face of unexpected supply chain disruptions. In just the first three years of this legislation, the Port of Brunswick received two grants totaling nearly $30 million to increase both automotive and agricultural capacity at the port. I also fought to include more than $80 million for Georgia's ports in the 2024 government funding bill, including over $37 million to expand capacity and efficiency at the Port of Brunswick.Thanks to each of these substantial federal investments, the Port of Brunswick is prepared to respond to the temporary closure of the Port of Baltimore and help prevent disruptions to our nation's automotive supply chain.

Georgia's leaders at the federal and state level have a long history of bipartisan support for Georgia's ports and their role as an economic engine for the state and the rest of the country. As the Ports of Brunswick and Savannah continue to respond to the temporary closure of the Port of Baltimore, I look forward to working with you and maintaining our shared commitment to Georgia's ports and providing the necessary resources to support their operations during this disruptive time.

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