Posted:
May 13, 2013
During the fourth annual Congressional Sail-In, representatives from all key segments of the American maritime industry visited the offices of a total of 157 members of the House of Representatives and Senate on May 8, meeting with elected representatives and their staffs to discuss the important roles of the U.S. maritime industry and to address industry concerns regarding recent developments with aspects of U.S. maritime policy.
During the Sail-In, groups visited 53 offices in the Senate and 104 offices in the House of Representatives, of which 61 were those of freshman members of Congress. The delegation of 135 Sail-In participants provided specific information on a number of components of the maritime industry and addressed issues affecting those who work, sail, build and operate U.S.-flagged vessels, as well as issues affecting the nation's harbors, ports and waterways.
Among the central issues covered were the steep reduction in shipments of U.S. food aid proposed in the administration's fiscal year 2014 budget, and the importance to national security and U.S. defense sealift capabilities of maintaining Food for Peace in its current form. Another topic addressed during the Sail-In was the cut to the U.S.-flag cargo preference requirement for shipments of U.S. food aid under PL-480 enacted last year as part of a surface transportation bill. Maritime industry groups discussed the dominant and vital role served by the U.S.-flag commercial merchant fleet in support of sustained military sealift operations, underscored the importance of the Maritime Security Program, detailed the roles of U.S. merchant mariners in supporting surge and sustained sealift missions, and highlighted the always imperative need for support of the Jones Act.
"It is very important for Congress to fully understand and appreciate the contribution of the American maritime industry to our national defense and to our economy," said American Maritime Officers Service Legislative Consultant Brenda Otterson. "The Sail-In gives newer members of Congress the opportunity to hear from a broad spectrum of industry representatives and to raise questions and get answers on issues important to us all. It also provides us with a valuable opportunity to meet with incumbent lawmakers and talk about current and ongoing legislative issues that impact the maritime industry."
Participating in the Sail-In this year from American Maritime Officers were AMO National Secretary-Treasurer José Leonard, AMO National Vice President for Government Relations Michael Murphy, AMO National Assistant Vice President Daniel Shea, AMO National Assistant Vice President David Weathers, AMO Legislative Director Paul Doell, AMO Administrative Assistant - Legislative Paulette Brown, and AMO Editor Matt Burke.
Key components of U.S. maritime policy highlighted during fourth annual Congressional Sail-In
During the fourth annual Congressional Sail-In, representatives from all key segments of the American maritime industry visited the offices of a total of 157 members of the House of Representatives and Senate on May 8, meeting with elected representatives and their staffs to discuss the important roles of the U.S. maritime industry and to address industry concerns regarding recent developments with aspects of U.S. maritime policy.
During the Sail-In, groups visited 53 offices in the Senate and 104 offices in the House of Representatives, of which 61 were those of freshman members of Congress. The delegation of 135 Sail-In participants provided specific information on a number of components of the maritime industry and addressed issues affecting those who work, sail, build and operate U.S.-flagged vessels, as well as issues affecting the nation's harbors, ports and waterways.
Among the central issues covered were the steep reduction in shipments of U.S. food aid proposed in the administration's fiscal year 2014 budget, and the importance to national security and U.S. defense sealift capabilities of maintaining Food for Peace in its current form. Another topic addressed during the Sail-In was the cut to the U.S.-flag cargo preference requirement for shipments of U.S. food aid under PL-480 enacted last year as part of a surface transportation bill. Maritime industry groups discussed the dominant and vital role served by the U.S.-flag commercial merchant fleet in support of sustained military sealift operations, underscored the importance of the Maritime Security Program, detailed the roles of U.S. merchant mariners in supporting surge and sustained sealift missions, and highlighted the always imperative need for support of the Jones Act.
"It is very important for Congress to fully understand and appreciate the contribution of the American maritime industry to our national defense and to our economy," said American Maritime Officers Service Legislative Consultant Brenda Otterson. "The Sail-In gives newer members of Congress the opportunity to hear from a broad spectrum of industry representatives and to raise questions and get answers on issues important to us all. It also provides us with a valuable opportunity to meet with incumbent lawmakers and talk about current and ongoing legislative issues that impact the maritime industry."
Participating in the Sail-In this year from American Maritime Officers were AMO National Secretary-Treasurer José Leonard, AMO National Vice President for Government Relations Michael Murphy, AMO National Assistant Vice President Daniel Shea, AMO National Assistant Vice President David Weathers, AMO Legislative Director Paul Doell, AMO Administrative Assistant - Legislative Paulette Brown, and AMO Editor Matt Burke.