FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2003
Contact: Lori Baer
lbaer@aapa-ports.org

REP. OBERSTAR TO BE HONORED TUESDAY, MARCH 25, AS "PORT PERSON OF YEAR" AT AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PORT AUTHORITIES SPRING CONFERENCE

ALEXANDRIA, VA (March 11, 2003) - U.S. Rep. James L. Oberstar, D-Minn., is to be honored as "Port Person of the Year," the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) announced today. Oberstar, who is widely known among colleagues as "Mr. Transportation," is scheduled to receive the award Tuesday, March 25, at 8:30 a.m. at the Park Hyatt Washington, 1201 24th St., NW, at the opening General Session of AAPA's Spring Conference. Oberstar will deliver the conference's keynote address at the same session.

AAPA anticipates that more than 200 legislators, governmental staff members and port industry leaders will take part in the conference, from Monday, March 24, through Wednesday, March 26. Other scheduled sessions include:

"Developments in Maritime Security in the Western Hemisphere" William Schubert, Administrator, U.S. DOT, Maritime Administration; Steve McHale, Deputy Administrator, Transportation Security Administration; Rear Admiral Larry L. Hereth, Director, Port Security, U.S. Coast Guard

"The Vital Role of Ports in Times of International Crisis"
Brigadier General Barbara Doonink, Department Commanding Officer, Military Traffic Management Command

"Freight Professional Capacity Building"
Harry Caldwell, Chief of Intermodal Freight, U.S. DOT, Federal Highway Administration;
Scott Johnson, Transportation Specialist, U.S. DOT, Federal Highway Administration

"Congressman Oberstar is known as a tireless battler for the transportation industry, and his reputation for performance, delivery, public service and integrity is beyond reproach," said Davis Helberg, executive director of the Duluth (Minn.) Seaway Port Authority, who nominated Oberstar for the award. "I doubt if any member of Congress - House or Senate - is more knowledgeable about our nation's waterways and the essentiality of competitive waterborne transportation."

Since 1975, his first year in office, Oberstar has been a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which prior to 1995 was known as the House Public Works Committee. In the four years preceding his election, he served as staff administrator for that committee.

Oberstar has authored or co-authored numerous transportation bills, including six Water Resources Development Acts from 1986 to 2000 and various Coast Guard and Coastal Zone Management reauthorizations and amendments.

On a regional level, he has spearheaded several significant initiatives, including conversion to equity of the original St. Lawrence Seaway construction debt in 1981, elimination of U.S. Seaway tolls in 1986, construction of the second 1,200-foot lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., in 1999, and the Great Lakes Navigational Review Study in 1999.

Oberstar's many previous national awards have included: Propeller Club of the United States Man of the Year in 2000, American Public Transportation Association National Distinguished Service Award in 2000, Great Lakes Maritime Task Force Legislator of the Year in 1999, and National Association of State Aviation Officials Award for Excellence in 1998.

AAPA's Port Person of the Year award is presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the port industry. The three most recent recipients are:

2002: U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick and U.S. Customs Commissioner Robert C. Bonner
2001: U.S. Sen. John Breaux, D-La.
2000: U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas

The American Association of Port Authorities was founded in 1912 and today represents 150 of the leading public port authorities in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, the Association represents 300 sustaining and associate members, firms and individuals with an interest in the seaports of the Western Hemisphere.

AAPA port members are public entities mandated by law to serve public purposes. Port authorities facilitate waterborne commerce and contribute to local, regional and national economic growth.

This release can also be found on AAPA's Web Site at www.aapa-ports.org.

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