Posted:
March 7, 2013
The following letter dated Feb. 28, 2013, was sent by National Executive Director of the Navy League of the United States Dale Lumme to Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget Jeffrey Zients.
On behalf of the 48,000 members and 250 worldwide councils of the Navy League of the United States, we urge you to maintain the structure of and funding levels for the Food for Peace and Food for Progress programs in the FY 2014 budget. These food aid cargo programs are necessary to maintain the commercial U.S. Merchant Marine and play an important role in American diplomacy.
Food for Peace funding has already been cut by 35% since FY08, and recent reports suggest that the Administration's budget will include a proposal to dismantle the Food for Peace Program in order to send cash abroad instead of American food aid. This would be disastrous for the American maritime community. This program has had long-standing, bipartisan support; every Administration has supported the program since its inception in 1954.
Cancelling this vital program will significantly undermine the U.S.-flag Merchant Marine and have devastating impacts to our national security. The United States Merchant Marine has been a necessary part of our national defense since the founding of our nation. The U.S. government relies on the U.S.-flag, U.S.-crewed ships in a public-private partnership with the Department of Defense to ensure the safe transportation of critical cargo anywhere in the world at any time--especially during times of war or national emergency.
As American forces draw down worldwide, Department of Defense cargoes are being greatly reduced, forcing U.S. flag carriers to become increasingly dependent on other components of cargo preference, such as food aid, to remain economically viable and available in emergencies. We rely on the availability of U.S. Merchant Marine vessels, infrastructure and manpower to ensure the safe delivery of military equipment and supplies to our soldiers; the same capabilities replicated by the Department of Defense would cost billions more. Once the U.S. flag Merchant Marine capability is diminished due to the impacts of this program cancellation, the United States could be forced to depend on politically unreliable foreign ships and crews to deliver important military and relief cargoes during times of war and national emergency. We must retain this strategic capability.
Beyond the impacts to national security by undermining the Merchant Marine, hollowing out these programs will also adversely affect American jobs. The transportation of Food for Peace cargo alone, not counting the farm and milling of the commodities, is an important source of jobs for American shippers, processors, port workers, and merchant mariners, providing employment for over 33,000 Americans, $1 .9 billion in economic output, and $523 million in household earnings.
We support keeping funding at no less than the $1.466 billion provided last year. This foreign aid program is a significant source of American jobs and preserves a needed national security asset. The Navy League believes strongly in American goodwill abroad, and this program is a necessary component of that: life-sustaining food in bags marked as gifts "From the American People" and bearing the U.S. flag are an important symbol of our nation's concern and generosity to recipients, ensuring the sight of an American flag on a mast continues to be a promise of a better tomorrow.
Navy League: canceling Food for Peace would have 'devastating impacts to our national security'
The following letter dated Feb. 28, 2013, was sent by National Executive Director of the Navy League of the United States Dale Lumme to Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget Jeffrey Zients.
On behalf of the 48,000 members and 250 worldwide councils of the Navy League of the United States, we urge you to maintain the structure of and funding levels for the Food for Peace and Food for Progress programs in the FY 2014 budget. These food aid cargo programs are necessary to maintain the commercial U.S. Merchant Marine and play an important role in American diplomacy.
Food for Peace funding has already been cut by 35% since FY08, and recent reports suggest that the Administration's budget will include a proposal to dismantle the Food for Peace Program in order to send cash abroad instead of American food aid. This would be disastrous for the American maritime community. This program has had long-standing, bipartisan support; every Administration has supported the program since its inception in 1954.
Cancelling this vital program will significantly undermine the U.S.-flag Merchant Marine and have devastating impacts to our national security. The United States Merchant Marine has been a necessary part of our national defense since the founding of our nation. The U.S. government relies on the U.S.-flag, U.S.-crewed ships in a public-private partnership with the Department of Defense to ensure the safe transportation of critical cargo anywhere in the world at any time--especially during times of war or national emergency.
As American forces draw down worldwide, Department of Defense cargoes are being greatly reduced, forcing U.S. flag carriers to become increasingly dependent on other components of cargo preference, such as food aid, to remain economically viable and available in emergencies. We rely on the availability of U.S. Merchant Marine vessels, infrastructure and manpower to ensure the safe delivery of military equipment and supplies to our soldiers; the same capabilities replicated by the Department of Defense would cost billions more. Once the U.S. flag Merchant Marine capability is diminished due to the impacts of this program cancellation, the United States could be forced to depend on politically unreliable foreign ships and crews to deliver important military and relief cargoes during times of war and national emergency. We must retain this strategic capability.
Beyond the impacts to national security by undermining the Merchant Marine, hollowing out these programs will also adversely affect American jobs. The transportation of Food for Peace cargo alone, not counting the farm and milling of the commodities, is an important source of jobs for American shippers, processors, port workers, and merchant mariners, providing employment for over 33,000 Americans, $1 .9 billion in economic output, and $523 million in household earnings.
We support keeping funding at no less than the $1.466 billion provided last year. This foreign aid program is a significant source of American jobs and preserves a needed national security asset. The Navy League believes strongly in American goodwill abroad, and this program is a necessary component of that: life-sustaining food in bags marked as gifts "From the American People" and bearing the U.S. flag are an important symbol of our nation's concern and generosity to recipients, ensuring the sight of an American flag on a mast continues to be a promise of a better tomorrow.