Cammack Champions JAXPORT Upgrade as Port Wins $40 Million Federal Grant

October 29, 2026 Press Release The Congresswoman urged Secretary Duffy in May to fund the Blount Island berth modernization, citing its role in military deployments and Florida's economy. GAINESVILLE, Fla . – Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-03) advocated for the funding to rebuild JAXPORT's Blount Island berth, and this week the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $40 million to the Jacksonville Port Authority to start the rebuild. In a letter to Secretary Sean Duffy, Cammack argued the port is critical to military deployments and Florida's economy, and that modernizing its berths would let Blount Island fully support post-Panamax ships. The Maritime Administration's FY 2026 Port Infrastructure Development Program grant funds Phase I of the project, rebuilding roughly 900 linear feet of berth and increasing how much weight it can carry. “When our troops have to move, they move through ports like this one. JAXPORT is one of 17 commercial seaports that support our military when it deploys, and the rest of the time, its cargo supports more than 258,800 Florida jobs. I made that case to Secretary Duffy in May because this berth has to be ready for both,” said Congresswoman Cammack . “This grant gets the work started, and I’ll keep pushing for the ports that keep Florida and our military moving.” Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04), whose district includes Blount Island, worked directly with the U.S. Department of Transportation to advance the project. “The strength of Northeast Florida’s economy is directly tied to our ports,” said Congressman Bean . “I am pleased to have worked with my colleagues to secure this critical funding. Improving the infrastructure at Blount Island Marine Terminal will expand deepwater capacity and help ensure the safe, efficient, and reliable movement of goods through one of our nation’s most strategically important seaports.” About the Project Phase I will reconstruct roughly 900 linear feet of berth structure at Blount Island and increase its load-bearing capacity. Work includes bulkhead replacement, localized dredging, pile driving, a new toe wall, concrete deck reconstruction, heavy-duty crane rail, a fiber optic duct bank, utility upgrades, and high-mast lighting. It is the first step in a larger effort to modernize approximately 2,500 linear feet of berth at Berths 30 through 32, so Blount Island can fully support post-Panamax vessels using JAXPORT's 47-foot channel. Background In a May 19, 2026 letter to Secretary Duffy, Congresswoman Cammack supported JAXPORT's application and urged full and fair consideration of the project. JAXPORT is Florida's largest container port by volume. Cargo activity through the port supports over 258,800 jobs and nearly $44 billion in annual economic output for Florida. JAXPORT handles approximately 90% of the cargo that moves between Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland. On October 27, 2026, DOT announced $498 million in Port Infrastructure Development Program grants for 35 projects across 19 states. ###