Dutch Ruppersberger: “The first thing I want to tell the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Mfume) is that I represented Sparrows Point and the Key…”

“The first thing I want to tell the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Mfume) is that I represented Sparrows Point and the Key Bridge for over 20 years. We just had redistricting, and all of a sudden, the gentleman is the new person. He jumped in with both feet, and I appreciate the gentleman's leadership in pulling people together. The funny thing is that the bridge is located in Baltimore City, but Baltimore County is right next to it. I grew up and went to school in the city, and the gentleman went to Turner Station, which is in Baltimore County. It is really, I think, unique that the gentleman is here now to move forward and do whatever he needs to do. He is doing a great job, and I thank him for his leadership and all that he is doing. Mr. Speaker, as I said before, I proudly represented the port for over 20 years until the recent redistricting, so I literally watched the port grow into one of Maryland's and our country's strongest economic engines. Today, the port supports more than 51,000 direct, induced, and indirect jobs and another 346,000 related jobs. These are jobs associated with the cargo moving through the port, companies that export and import cargo through the port, as well as the end-stage businesses like manufacturers and auto dealers. All of this activity generated $5 billion in personal wages and salaries for Marylanders last year alone and brought in $647 million in State and local tax revenues.…”