SC CHamber Response on Port Restructuring

On Feb. 18, the South Carolina Senate passed S.351, legislation to restructure the South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA). The legislation restructures the port’s board of directors and establishes long-term strategic planning.

The South Carolina Chamber opposed the inclusion of the creation of a port advisory board, and the Senate removed that portion from the legislation. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives.

South Carolina Chamber Response
The following response may be attributed to Otis B. Rawl Jr., President and CEO of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.

The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce thanks Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell, Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler, and Senators Larry Grooms and Nikki Setzler for their leadership on moving the port restructuring bill forward this week. We thank them for their willingness to work with the business community to ensure the port continues to be one of the primary economic development engines for South Carolina and serves as a port of entry for South Carolina businesses operating in global markets.

The South Carolina Chamber believes the state must continue to move forward on expansion of the Charleston and Jasper ports and stabilize the current structure for the SCSPA board of directors. S.351 accomplishes both of these items. The Chamber encourages the House of Representatives to act swiftly for passage of the legislation.