Key maritime programs, statutes in focus during Maritime Industry Congressional Sail-In on Capitol Hill
AMO members met with Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) during the reception of the annual Congressional Sail In event in Washington D.C. on March 6. From left to right, Kathleen Friel, Nicholas St. Jean, Michael Hoffman, Cathryn Segert, Morgan Dailey, Kevin Stith, Joseph Gargiulo and AMO Vice President for Government Relations Christian Spain.
On March 6, more than 150 representatives from U.S.-flag shipping companies, American maritime labor unions, U.S. shipyards, maritime businesses, and maritime organizations and associations, as well as merchant mariners and workers from other segments of the maritime industry, met with members of Congress and their staffs on Capitol Hill during the tenth annual Maritime Industry Congressional Sail-In.American Maritime Officers members, officials and staff participated in the event, and shared their personal seagoing experiences while emphasizing the important roles the U.S. Merchant Marine serves in national defense, commerce and security.
AMO members participating in the Sail-In included Michael Hoffman, Joseph Gargiulo, Byron Gibson, Morgan Dailey, Nicholas St. Jean, Kevin Stith, Cathryn Segert, Tomas Malo, Kathleen Friel, and Jean Marie Berger. Joining them were AMO National Vice President, Government Relations, Christian Spain, AMO staff members Mike Murphy and Todd Wright, and American Maritime Officers Service Legislative Consultant Brenda Otterson.
Sail-In participants met with more than 195 members of Congress and/or their staff members, including many newly-elected members of Congress, to discuss the importance of the U.S.-flag commercial shipping industry and the U.S. Merchant Marine, and the laws and programs that are vital to the industry, such as the Jones Act, Maritime Security Program and U.S. cargo preference laws.
They provided Congress with up-to-date information about the programs and policies that enable the U.S.-flag merchant fleet and its American crews to continue to meet the commercial sealift requirements of the Department of Defense.
They urged Congress to ensure that, as our government dedicates its efforts to Buy American and Hire American, it also guarantees that American cargo is shipped American in order to sustain and create U.S. seagoing jobs, bolster the economy and maintain the active base of U.S. merchant mariners needed to support the nation's defense sealift capabilities.
A Sail In group that included AMOS legislative consultant Brenda Otterson meets with Congressman Mike Bost (R-IL).
A Sail In group that included AMO member Michael Hoffman (far right) meets with Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT).
A Sail In group that included Mike Murphy and Kathleen Friel meets with Congressman Brad Schneider (D-IL).
A Sail In group that included AMO member Kevin Stith (far right) meets with Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX).
A Sail In group that included AMOS legislative consultant Brenda Otterson meets with Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV).
A Sail In group that included AMO member Michael Hoffman meets with Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) (center).
A Sail In group that included Brenda Otterson meets with Congressman Brian Babin (R-TX).
American Maritime Officers members who participated in the annual Congressional Sail In lobbying event in Washington D.C. on March 6 included Kevin Stith, Kathleen Friel, Morgan Dailey and Jean Marie Berger.
American Maritime Officers members who participated in the annual Congressional Sail In lobbying event in Washington D.C. on March 6 included Tomas Malo, Nicholas St. Jean and Michael Hoffman.