Rep. Carl: U.S. food-aid cargoes critical to U.S. Merchant Marine, national security

Delivering life-saving U.S. food-aid cargoes around the world is critical to the vitality of the U.S. Merchant Marine and American mariners are to be commended for their service in this and other important capacities, said Congressman Jerry Carl (R-AL) during a hearing to discuss the 2024 federal budget request of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on April 18.

USAID is the government agency that administers such programs as Food for Peace, which delivers U.S. food aid to nations in need around the world. Under U.S. cargo preference requirements, 50 percent of U.S. government-impelled food-aid cargoes are to be shipped by U.S.-flagged vessels.

Speaking during the hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs, Rep. Carl highlighted his personal connection to U.S. seagoing service - his father served as a merchant mariner in World War II and worked in the merchant marine throughout his life. "The U.S.-flag merchant fleet is critical to our nation's national security," Rep. Carl said.

Addressing USAID Administrator Samantha Power, Rep. Carl said: "I think it's important we make sure that the U.S. fleet remains healthy, so they are ready when we call ... in an emergency or in war times. USAID's cargo is not only critical to the community around the world, but also keeps the U.S.-flag fleet ready. My question, administrator, is can you talk about the role the U.S.-flag fleet plays in the USA-delivery goods to Yemen?"

Power responded: "First of all ... the role that U.S. food plays and that those who transport that food is invaluable. In Yemen, in places like Somalia, we have a hybrid approach ... But, you know, the long trek that these men and women take on behalf of hungry people, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the Middle East, is a critical component of what we do."

Rep. Carl asked if we are using U.S.-flagged ships to go into Yemen and some other countries.

Although she did not specify to which countries U.S. merchant ships were currently deployed with food-aid cargoes, Power responded: "U.S.-flagged vessels, we are as a component because of the cargo preference requirements."

Concluding the line of questioning, Rep. Carl said: "I'd also like to take just a moment to thank all of our merchant mariners for all they do and the hard work of getting goods from here to there, wherever there is, in a timely manner."