After Months of Pushing to Address Georgia’s Supply Chain Crisis, Senator Reverend Warnock Helps Secure $8M for the Port of Savannah

More than $8 million released for Georgia Ports Authority to alleviate congestion at the Port of Savannah and fund five pop-up container yards

Last week Senator Warnock introduced the Supply Chain Resiliency Actto address Georgia’s supply chain issues

Senator Reverend Warnock also recently held a supply chain roundtable discussion with Georgia leaders, including Port of Savannah officials, to discuss supply chain solutions for the state – WATCH VIDEO HERE

Funding comes on the heels of the U.S. House’s passage of landmark bipartisan infrastructure legislation championed by Senator Reverend Warnock that will invest $17 billion in U.S. ports, waterways

Senator Reverend Warnock:“I’ve been urging the administration to act boldly to combat these supply chain disruptions, so I’m thrilled they listened to me and others on the ground in releasing federal investments for the Port of Savannah that will help facilitate the transport of cargo, ease port congestion and keep our economy strong and moving forward”

Georgia Ports Authority: “Every part of the freight and logistics sector is reassessing its operations due to the current crisis. This reassigned funding will allow us to open new intermodal outlets to help alleviate supply chain congestion and improve the flow of goods for our customers at the Port of Savannah”

Washington, D.C. — Following persistent urging from U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and his office for the federal government to address Georgia’s supply chain issues, today Senator Warnock applauded an announcement that the U.S. Department of Transportation will release $8 million in federal funding for the Georgia Ports Authority to ease congestion at the Port of Savannah. The funding will be used to convert existing inland facilities into five pop-up container yards in both Georgia and North Carolina, which will help address supply chain challenges the nation is experiencing.

“Since I got to Washington I’ve been working to make sure the federal government is doing what’s needed to strengthen Georgia’s infrastructure and address supply chains issues impacting consumers and businesses across our state. I’ve been urging the administration to act boldly to combat these supply chain disruptions, so I’m thrilled they listened to me and others on the ground in releasing federal investments for the Port of Savannah that will help facilitate the transport of cargo, ease port congestion and keep our economy strong and moving forward,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.

“Commerce relies upon infrastructure and innovation to succeed. Every part of the freight and logistics sector is reassessing its operations due to the current crisis. This reassigned funding will allow us to open new intermodal outlets to help alleviate supply chain congestion and improve the flow of goods for our customers at the Port of Savannah,” said Griff Lynch, Executive Director of the Georgia Ports Authority.“We appreciate the hard work of the White House Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force in their efforts to resolve this national crisis as well as the support of the Georgia Congressional delegation advocating on our behalf.”

Since October, Senator Warnock has been in frequent contact with senior officials at the U.S. Department of Transportation and the White House, as well as the Georgia Ports Authority and their officials at the Port of Savannah, to press the essential need for federal funding to ease supply chain issues at Georgia’s ports. Senator Warnock has worked for months to strengthen American supply chains and manufacturing, and last week introduced the Supply Chain Resiliency Act to help strengthen the nation’s domestic supply chain.

Senator Warnock has also previously raised supply chain issues as a member the Senate Commerce Committee, including during a hearing last month with senior officials from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in charge of investigating the nation’s supply chain issues. During that hearing, Senator Warnock received a commitment from the official that the agency would work directly with Senator Warnock to address the specific needs of Georgia businesses. The funding also comes on the heels of the U.S. House’s passage of landmark bipartisan infrastructure legislation championed by Senator Reverend Warnock that will invest $17 billion in the nation’s ports and waterways.

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