REMARKS AS PREPARED BY
MARITIME ADMINISTRATOR REAR ADM. (Ret.) ANN PHILLIPS 
VIRGINIA PORT AUTHORITY: NORFOLK TERMINAL RIBBON-CUTTING

Good morning! Thank you for the warm welcome and the kind introduction. On behalf of the Department of Transportation and the Maritime Administration, I am so happy to be here today at NIT in Hampton Roads!
 
Before I go much further, I want to take a moment to extend a special thank you to Stephen Edwards, the CEO and Executive Director of the Port of Virginia.
   
I would also especially like to make a special thanks to Jennifer Mitchell, who I had the pleasure of working with during our time working for Governor Ralph Northam . Prior to joining the Federal Railroad Administration as Deputy Administrator, she served as the Director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and played a huge role in getting this project presented as a grant, and supported by Commonwealth of VA funding match!
 
As we celebrate this milestone, it’s important to highlight the project that brought us all together today. This project, a testament to our collective efforts under the BIL to move goods - it is a significant step forward for supply chain links across the Mid-Atlantic.

This project will add to the port's capacity and increase its ability to safely handle the largest ships in the Atlantic container trades while ensuring sustainable growth throughout its network. Holistic in nature, this project will provide for the projected growth in cargo capacity while increasing the safety and efficiency of cargo moving through the facility.

Again, congratulations to you Stephan and to your team! This is fantastic work, for the Port of VA, Hampton Roads, Virginia, and our nation - and it has been my great pleasure to join you today to mark this occasion.  I am excited about the future and look forward to our continued collaboration.   

I would now like to introduce Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg. In addition to providing leadership and strategic vision as the Department’s Chief Operating Officer, Deputy Secretary Trottenberg, has been an invaluable colleague, because of her unwavering commitment, collaboration, and dedication. Importantly, Polly “gets it” when it comes to understanding the critical nature of the maritime sector and the role it plays in supporting our nation’s economy.

Please join me in welcome Deputy Secretary Trottenberg!