Posted:
June 13, 2014
The House of Representatives June 10 approved the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (H.R. 4745) - legislation that, in its current form, would leave the Maritime Security Program fleet underfunded by $20 million in the next fiscal year.
Commenting for the record June 9, Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) remarked on the importance of the MSP fleet to U.S. military sealift operations and capabilities, as well as the program's cost effectiveness, and encouraged colleagues to restore the MSP to the full funding level of $186 million for FY 2015 when the House and Senate convene a conference to reconcile different versions of this legislation.
As noted by Rep. Hunter, who is the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation and a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, which was approved by the House, includes authorization for $186 million for the program in the next fiscal year.
However, the House version of the appropriations legislation, H.R. 4745, contains an appropriation of $166 million for the MSP fleet in FY 2015.
If the program - which supports a fleet of 60 U.S.-flagged ships - were to be underfunded by $20 million in FY 2015, a loss of six or more ships from the MSP fleet would be the probable outcome in the next fiscal year.
The Senate version of this legislation - the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (S. 2438) - would provide the full funding level of $186 million authorized by law for the MSP in FY 2015. S. 2438 has been placed on the Senate's legislative calendar for action.
"I know a lot of difficult decisions had to be made but I wanted to express my concern over a $20 million reduction in funding for the Maritime Security Program (MSP)," Rep. Hunter said. "The U.S.-flag fleet is critical to our military in delivering cargo overseas to our military to ensure proper readiness and sustainment. The Department of Defense (DOD) for well over a decade has relied on MSP-enrolled vessels for sealift of necessary cargo into conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as other troubled areas in the world, all at a fraction of the cost of what it would cost DOD to replicate that sealift if it had to build its own vessels. These military-sensitive cargoes are handled by U.S.-flag ship operators and mariners that must meet DOD and Homeland Security standards. They have a demonstrated record of delivering these cargoes efficiently and safely.
"I would like to encourage the bill's managers to bring the program's funding level to $186 million in conference with the Senate," he said. "This program also has significant support from House members and I am including a letter signed by members in support of this funding. Finally this is the same amount appropriated in FY 2014, authorized by the Armed Services Committee in the NDAA, and requested by the President."
Rep. Hunter urges restoration of full MSP funding in House-Senate conference on FY 2015 appropriations measure
The House of Representatives June 10 approved the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (H.R. 4745) - legislation that, in its current form, would leave the Maritime Security Program fleet underfunded by $20 million in the next fiscal year.
Commenting for the record June 9, Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) remarked on the importance of the MSP fleet to U.S. military sealift operations and capabilities, as well as the program's cost effectiveness, and encouraged colleagues to restore the MSP to the full funding level of $186 million for FY 2015 when the House and Senate convene a conference to reconcile different versions of this legislation.
As noted by Rep. Hunter, who is the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation and a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, which was approved by the House, includes authorization for $186 million for the program in the next fiscal year.
However, the House version of the appropriations legislation, H.R. 4745, contains an appropriation of $166 million for the MSP fleet in FY 2015.
If the program - which supports a fleet of 60 U.S.-flagged ships - were to be underfunded by $20 million in FY 2015, a loss of six or more ships from the MSP fleet would be the probable outcome in the next fiscal year.
The Senate version of this legislation - the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (S. 2438) - would provide the full funding level of $186 million authorized by law for the MSP in FY 2015. S. 2438 has been placed on the Senate's legislative calendar for action.
"I know a lot of difficult decisions had to be made but I wanted to express my concern over a $20 million reduction in funding for the Maritime Security Program (MSP)," Rep. Hunter said. "The U.S.-flag fleet is critical to our military in delivering cargo overseas to our military to ensure proper readiness and sustainment. The Department of Defense (DOD) for well over a decade has relied on MSP-enrolled vessels for sealift of necessary cargo into conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as other troubled areas in the world, all at a fraction of the cost of what it would cost DOD to replicate that sealift if it had to build its own vessels. These military-sensitive cargoes are handled by U.S.-flag ship operators and mariners that must meet DOD and Homeland Security standards. They have a demonstrated record of delivering these cargoes efficiently and safely.
"I would like to encourage the bill's managers to bring the program's funding level to $186 million in conference with the Senate," he said. "This program also has significant support from House members and I am including a letter signed by members in support of this funding. Finally this is the same amount appropriated in FY 2014, authorized by the Armed Services Committee in the NDAA, and requested by the President."