Posted:
January 13, 2014
By John DeCrosta
AMO Director of Political Affairs
As members of AMO broadly know, and regular readers of American Maritime Officer and AMO Currents are more specifically aware, the Voluntary Political Action Fund (VPAF) is the most critical tool used by the union's Washington, D.C.-based team to build and maintain relationships with members of Congress.
Through coordinated events held in concert with other maritime labor unions and shipping companies operating U.S.-flagged vessels, we meet with senators and congressional representatives of both parties to garner support for the issues most critical to maintaining jobs for AMO members. Thanks to the strong support the VPAF enjoys within AMO, we are fortunate to have the means to be much more aggressive than many of our colleagues at the shipping lines, as well as many of our brethren at other shipboard labor organizations, in bringing our message to members of Congress. Absent the ability to directly maintain a dialogue and build relationships with elected officials, we would be much more challenged in bringing our concerns and priorities to the personal attention of individual senators and representatives.
It is important to stress the "Voluntary" aspect of the Voluntary Political Action Fund and to be clear that absolutely no union funds are used to finance this endeavor. The decision to participate in the VPAF is determined completely by each individual member, and the fund itself consists entirely of contributions received from AMO members via direct payments, payroll/vacation check-off, or credit card.
It is also important to note that contributions to the VPAF are held in an account separate from other union funds and nearly 100 percent of every dollar contributed to the VPAF is used for direct campaign contributions. The remaining portion pays for banking and auditing services to ensure the fund's compliance with federal regulations. No AMO officials, representatives or employees draw salaries or expenses from the VPAF.
The commitment of those AMO members who contribute to the VPAF is greatly appreciated by the union's government relations team. We could not do our jobs working to sustain the seagoing jobs of the AMO membership without your generous donations, and we thank you for your investment in the job and benefit security of all AMO members.
The consistent generosity of the AMO membership reflects an understanding of the clear connection between congressional support for maritime laws and programs and the existence of the U.S. merchant marine, and is reflected in the strength of the AMO VPAF. Our challenge is to increase the pool of contributors to the VPAF so that it returns to the peak of its strength seen in the 1990s. Make no mistake, the larger an organization's political action committee - what we title the Voluntary Political Action Fund - the stronger its message carries with members of Congress. While AMO is much better positioned than many other organizations to make its case on the issues, we can and should do better, particularly under the dire circumstances confronting our industry on Capitol Hill.
Just as they did in the 1990s, AMO today needs senior officers - our captains and chief engineers - to make the case to junior officers aboard their vessels about the importance of contributing to the VPAF.
The issues we face on Capitol Hill are perennial, and include protection of the Jones Act, funding for the Maritime Security Program, enforcement of cargo preference laws, and resisting efforts to weaken U.S. food aid programs. While none of these are issues that may command the attention of the entire U.S. Congress, they are ones where our opponents are strongly motivated and well funded to try to weaken the laws that help keep the U.S.-flag fleet in both international and domestic trades viable and AMO members employed. In the past year, each of these programs was under attack - the MSP fleet faced the risk of being cut due to sequestration; the Obama administration, congressional allies, and private organizations came within a whisker's length of diluting the requirement to move humanitarian assistance aboard U.S.-flagged vessels; and Jones Act "reform" legislation was introduced. Relationships developed in years past through use of the VPAF - and new relationships created this year thanks to the VPAF - helped ensure our industry, and our union, prevailed on these counts.
Looking forward, the above-identified concerns will remain with us in 2014, while other challenges potentially loom. These may include commitments the U.S. might make in trade agreement negotiations, particularly the services initiative, and a possible repeat attempt to strip the U.S.-flag cargo preference requirement when the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States comes up for consideration.
There may also be growth opportunities for our industry in the near future, depending in part upon proposals generated by the National Maritime Strategy Symposium, possible initiatives spurred by the Department of Transportation, and the shape these may take in the hands of Congress. We are also very optimistic about the potential for new seagoing work in energy transportation.
The underlying point is, whether we are working to defend what we have or exploring areas where we might achieve expansion of our industry and job base, Congress is at the nexus of our efforts. The VPAF is indispensable in helping to protect the interests of the membership in Washington, D.C.
Again, we are immensely grateful to those who support the VPAF. If you do not contribute to the VPAF, or have let your contributions lapse, we ask you to consider contributing again, even at a modest level. The key to a successful fund is achieving as close to universal participation as is possible. The key to AMO's success on Capitol Hill is a strong VPAF.
If you have any questions regarding the VPAF or AMO's activities in Washington, D.C., please contact either myself, or Legislative Director Paul Doell, or National Vice President, Government Relations, Mike Murphy directly.
The AMO VPAF: an investment in job, benefit security
By John DeCrosta
AMO Director of Political Affairs
As members of AMO broadly know, and regular readers of American Maritime Officer and AMO Currents are more specifically aware, the Voluntary Political Action Fund (VPAF) is the most critical tool used by the union's Washington, D.C.-based team to build and maintain relationships with members of Congress.
Through coordinated events held in concert with other maritime labor unions and shipping companies operating U.S.-flagged vessels, we meet with senators and congressional representatives of both parties to garner support for the issues most critical to maintaining jobs for AMO members. Thanks to the strong support the VPAF enjoys within AMO, we are fortunate to have the means to be much more aggressive than many of our colleagues at the shipping lines, as well as many of our brethren at other shipboard labor organizations, in bringing our message to members of Congress. Absent the ability to directly maintain a dialogue and build relationships with elected officials, we would be much more challenged in bringing our concerns and priorities to the personal attention of individual senators and representatives.
It is important to stress the "Voluntary" aspect of the Voluntary Political Action Fund and to be clear that absolutely no union funds are used to finance this endeavor. The decision to participate in the VPAF is determined completely by each individual member, and the fund itself consists entirely of contributions received from AMO members via direct payments, payroll/vacation check-off, or credit card.
It is also important to note that contributions to the VPAF are held in an account separate from other union funds and nearly 100 percent of every dollar contributed to the VPAF is used for direct campaign contributions. The remaining portion pays for banking and auditing services to ensure the fund's compliance with federal regulations. No AMO officials, representatives or employees draw salaries or expenses from the VPAF.
The commitment of those AMO members who contribute to the VPAF is greatly appreciated by the union's government relations team. We could not do our jobs working to sustain the seagoing jobs of the AMO membership without your generous donations, and we thank you for your investment in the job and benefit security of all AMO members.
The consistent generosity of the AMO membership reflects an understanding of the clear connection between congressional support for maritime laws and programs and the existence of the U.S. merchant marine, and is reflected in the strength of the AMO VPAF. Our challenge is to increase the pool of contributors to the VPAF so that it returns to the peak of its strength seen in the 1990s. Make no mistake, the larger an organization's political action committee - what we title the Voluntary Political Action Fund - the stronger its message carries with members of Congress. While AMO is much better positioned than many other organizations to make its case on the issues, we can and should do better, particularly under the dire circumstances confronting our industry on Capitol Hill.
Just as they did in the 1990s, AMO today needs senior officers - our captains and chief engineers - to make the case to junior officers aboard their vessels about the importance of contributing to the VPAF.
The issues we face on Capitol Hill are perennial, and include protection of the Jones Act, funding for the Maritime Security Program, enforcement of cargo preference laws, and resisting efforts to weaken U.S. food aid programs. While none of these are issues that may command the attention of the entire U.S. Congress, they are ones where our opponents are strongly motivated and well funded to try to weaken the laws that help keep the U.S.-flag fleet in both international and domestic trades viable and AMO members employed. In the past year, each of these programs was under attack - the MSP fleet faced the risk of being cut due to sequestration; the Obama administration, congressional allies, and private organizations came within a whisker's length of diluting the requirement to move humanitarian assistance aboard U.S.-flagged vessels; and Jones Act "reform" legislation was introduced. Relationships developed in years past through use of the VPAF - and new relationships created this year thanks to the VPAF - helped ensure our industry, and our union, prevailed on these counts.
Looking forward, the above-identified concerns will remain with us in 2014, while other challenges potentially loom. These may include commitments the U.S. might make in trade agreement negotiations, particularly the services initiative, and a possible repeat attempt to strip the U.S.-flag cargo preference requirement when the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States comes up for consideration.
There may also be growth opportunities for our industry in the near future, depending in part upon proposals generated by the National Maritime Strategy Symposium, possible initiatives spurred by the Department of Transportation, and the shape these may take in the hands of Congress. We are also very optimistic about the potential for new seagoing work in energy transportation.
The underlying point is, whether we are working to defend what we have or exploring areas where we might achieve expansion of our industry and job base, Congress is at the nexus of our efforts. The VPAF is indispensable in helping to protect the interests of the membership in Washington, D.C.
Again, we are immensely grateful to those who support the VPAF. If you do not contribute to the VPAF, or have let your contributions lapse, we ask you to consider contributing again, even at a modest level. The key to a successful fund is achieving as close to universal participation as is possible. The key to AMO's success on Capitol Hill is a strong VPAF.
If you have any questions regarding the VPAF or AMO's activities in Washington, D.C., please contact either myself, or Legislative Director Paul Doell, or National Vice President, Government Relations, Mike Murphy directly.