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James Oberstar News

07 May 2014

Maritime Community to Pay Tribute Oberstar

M/V Hon. James L. Oberstar (Photo courtesy The Interlake Steamship Company)

The Great Lakes Maritime community will honor Former Rep. James Oberstar on Thursday, May 8. All U.S.-flag vessels working the Great Lakes will lower their flags to half-mast in honor of Congressman Oberstar. Also on May 8, at almost the same time funeral services for Congressman James L. Oberstar are scheduled to get under way in Washington D.C., the U.S.-flag laker that bears his name is scheduled to arrive in the Port of Duluth-Superior to load iron ore pellets – a Great Lakes…

05 May 2014

AAPA Remembers 'Tireless' Congressman James Oberstar

Following the recent passing of former Cong. James Oberstar, American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) President and CEO Kurt Nagle described the past chair of the U.S. “In 2003, AAPA honored Cong. Oberstar with its prestigious ‘Port Person of the Year’ award for his many contributions to advancing America’s freight transportation system, including authoring or co-authoring six Water Resources Development Acts from 1986 to 2000, and various Coast Guard and Coastal Zone Management reauthorizations and amendments,” said Mr. Nagle. In March 2010, Cong. Oberstar returned to the AAPA stage as a keynote speaker to share his views about the importance of authorizing new surface transportation legislation.

12 Oct 2011

Speakers for 8th Annual WCI Annual Meeting and Symposium Announced

Meeting takes place in Pittsburg, PA on October 19-21, 2011. Governor of Pennsylvania Tom Corbett; PNC Financial Services Group Chairman/CEO James Rohr; Rep. Mike Doyle; The Honorable James Oberstar; and among keynoters. A variety of distinguished speakers and panelists have been announced for the Eighth Annual Waterways Symposium and WCI Annual Meeting, sponsored by Waterways Council, Inc., Informa Economics and The Waterways Journal. The Symposium will take place October 20-21…

02 Nov 2010

AWO Hails New Deadlines for Towing Vessel Inspection Regs

The American Waterways Operators (AWO), the national trade association for the tugboat, towboat and barge industry, hails the enactment of provisions in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-281) that bring the industry one step closer to a historic towing vessel inspection regulation to improve safety in the towing industry. Section 701 of the Act requires the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding inspection requirements for towing vessels” no more than 90 days from the date of enactment, a provision strongly advocated by AWO. The law requires that a final rule be issued no more than one year after the enactment date.

26 Jul 2010

GLMRI Awarded $750,000 Clean Diesel Grant

The Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute (GLMRI) has been awarded a $750,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative Grant to help reduce air emissions from a 1,000-ft Great Lakes ore carrier. Dr. Richard Stewart, GLMRI co-director, said the grant enables Key Lakes I, Inc., a Great Lakes vessel operator to repower the M/V Edwin H. Gott during the year-long project. The main engine installation will take place at Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, concurrent with the vessel’s winter layup and drydocking. GLMRI and Key Lakes I, Inc., are partners in the project that will significantly reduce the air emissions for the M/V Edwin H.

01 Mar 2010

Hearing on FY11 budget: USCG, MARAD, FMC

The Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure conducted a hearing on the FY 2011 Budget for the Coast Guard, the Maritime Administration, and the Federal Maritime Commission. The Subcommittee noted that budget request for FY 2011 represented a 0.4% decrease for the Coast Guard; a 3% decrease for MARAD; and a 5.8% increase for the FMC. Committee Chair James Oberstar (D - MN) expressed great concern regarding the projected decrease in the Coast Guard’s operational capabilities mandated by the proposed budget and the fact that the budget would provide no monies for either the Assistance to Small Shipyards program or the Title XI Loan Guarantee program.

10 Feb 2010

House Hearing on Asian Carp, Great Lakes

The Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure conducted a hearing on Asian carp and the Great Lakes. In his statement, Representative James Oberstar (D-MN) discussed the threat posed by the Asian carp to the Great Lakes ecosystem. Cameron Davis, Senior Advisor, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), testified concerning EPA’s role in the process and the draft Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework. MGEN John Peabody, US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), testified concerning USACE’s efforts to date and its plans for upcoming efforts to stop the Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes via the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal. Mr.

22 Jan 2010

Grassley Receives WCI Leadership Award

Photo courtesy the office of Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) will receive the Ninth Annual Waterways Council, Inc. Leadership Service Award on Wednesday, February 24, 2010, at 6 p.m. at the W Hotel, Washington, DC. As one of the principal leaders in the effort to get the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) authorized in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2007, Senator Grassley will be honored for his strong support for the improvement of the Nation’s ports and commercial inland waterways system…

28 Jul 2009

Oberstar Proposes New Fees

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure released the statement of Representative James Oberstar (D-MN) before the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures of the House Committee on Ways and Means. In his statement, Representative Oberstar, who chairs the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, proposes various financing options for the Highway Trust Fund. Among the options is a proposal to raise the excise tax by $1 per barrel on crude oil and refined gasoline and diesel. Also proposed is a fee of $10 on every twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) container moving through a US port. There is also a proposal for a freight waybill tax (sales tax) of 0.1% on freight shipping costs. The excise tax proposal would raise an estimated $24 billion over six years.

23 Feb 2009

Harkin to Receive Waterways Council Award

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) will receive the Eighth Annual Waterways Council, Inc. Leadership Service Award on Wednesday, February 25, 2009, at 6 p.m. at the Willard Hotel, Washington, DC. Senator Harkin will be honored for his steadfast commitment to the improvement of the Nation’s ports and commercial inland waterways system over his many years in Congress. Harkin worked to broaden the support for locks and dam improvements crafting a measure with Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) that made improvements to environmental programs on the Upper Mississippi River. That resulted in a broadening of the coalition in support of moving forward with both improved locks and environmental mitigation. The measure was passed as a part of the 2007 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).

29 Jan 2009

6th Annual Marine Highways Conference

The 6th Annual North America's Marine Highways Conference, produced by the Journal of Commerce Conferences, will take place April 1 and 2 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, Jacksonville, Florida. The theme "Are We There Yet?" refers to the status of North American marine highways as a seemingly endless construction zone. Last December, Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, told The Journal of Commerce that he wanted to steer $30m of President-elect Obama's economic recovery package to short sea loan guarantees for vessels and shore facilities. The money is part of an overall $85b investment in transportation infrastructure now being considered by Congress.

12 Jun 2008

Hearing on Vessel Rebuilding

The Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure conducted a hearing on Rebuilding Vessels under the Jones Act. The law requires, for vessels eligible to engage in the coastwise trade, that any rebuilding, including the construction of any major component of the hull or superstructure, be done in the . Committee Chair James Oberstar (D-MN) noted the need for consistency in application of the rebuild regulations. Subcommittee Chair Elijah Cummings (D-MD) expressed concern about the lack of transparency in the rebuild determination process. Rear Admiral James Watson, USCG, urged Congress to bring greater legislative clarity to the Jones Act. Mr.

06 Jun 2002

Maritime Transportation Anti-Terrorism Act Of 2002 Approved By House

Bipartisan legislation that establishes a comprehensive national system to increase anti-terrorism security at U.S. ports and waterways was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on June 4. “The Maritime Transportation Antiterrorism Act of 2002” (H.R. 3983) was approved by a voice vote. - Rep. - Rep. - Rep. - Rep. The legislation approved by the House today also included the provisions from “The Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002” (H.R. 3507) which authorizes $5.9 billion for Coast Guard programs and operations during fiscal year 2002. H.R. 3507 was approved by the House in December 2001, but the Senate has continually refused to consider the bill.

12 Jul 2002

House Transportation Committee Proposes to Keep USCG Out of Homeland

In a bipartisan vote, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee amended the Homeland Security Agency proposal to protect the Coast Guard and Federal Emergency Management Agency from being absorbed into the proposed new agency. The bipartisan amendment to the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (H.R. 5005) was approved by a voice vote. - U.S. Rep. - U.S. Rep. “There is no doubt that after the events of September 11, the President must be given the resources to protect this country from all attacks, whether terrorist or otherwise,” Young said during the markup. “I want to make it clear that I do not object to the creation of a Department of Homeland Security. However, the bill as introduced raises many concerns which this Congress has a responsibility to address.

14 Apr 2005

$8.1B USCG Budget Approved

Legislation that authorizes $8.1 billion in Fiscal Year 2006 for the U.S. Coast Guard’s maritime strategy for homeland security, core mission performance and operational assets was approved today by the U.S. House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. “The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2005” (H.R. 889) was unanimously approved by a voice vote. H.R. H.R. 889 was introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska), and is cosponsored by Subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Transportation Committee Ranking Democratic Member James Oberstar (D-MN), and Coast Guard Subcommittee Ranking Democratic Member Bob Filner (D-CA). H.R.

19 Jul 2005

AAPA Applauds Vote on WRDA

After a successful floor vote in the U.S. House of Representatives today to approve passage of a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) authorization bill, American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) President/CEO Kurt Nagle applauded committee and subcommittee leaders for championing the legislation, noting that this is a prelude to conference and final passage of one of the most critically-needed authorization bills of this session. “America’s ports depend upon a regular, biennial cycle of new project authorizations to improve federal navigation channels to accommodate calls from a modern world fleet of deep-draft ships,” remarked Nagle. Nagle said that AAPA and its U.S.

18 Oct 2007

House Hearing on Mariner Education, Work Force

The Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure conducted an oversight hearing on Mariner Education and Work Force. As explained in the Summary of Subject Matter, the focus of the hearing was growing shortage of mariners and the challenges facing the maritime work force. Subcommittee Chair Elijah Cummings (D-MD) expressed concern that the maritime industry is no longer attractive for new entrants. Committee Chair James Oberstar (D-MN) discussed the importance of timely and relevant training. Rear Admiral Joel Whitehead, USCG, explained the role of the International Convention on Standards of Training…

29 Jun 2007

Bill to Reform Deepwater Acquisition Passes Committee

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed the Deepwater Integrated Program Reform Act, H.R. 2722, authored by Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. The Committee also passed the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007, H.R. 2830, authored by the Chairman of the full Transportation Committee, James Oberstar (D-MN) and by Congressman Cummings. Both bills passed on voice votes. “As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, I am determined to be the number one supporter of the Coast Guard – but also to ensure that…

25 Jun 2007

Cummings: The Scales of Coast Guard Justice Must be Balanced

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, responded to allegations contained in a June 24, 2007 Baltimore Sun investigative article that the practices followed in the U.S. Coast Guard's administrative court system are unfair to mariners accused of violations of law or operating procedures. "As both Chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee and a lawyer, I find the accusations presented in the Baltimore Sun article deeply troubling. "I will not comment on any pending litigation. Nevertheless, as a general rule, our judicial system must assure the fair treatment that is guaranteed by our constitutional principles of due process and equal protection.

28 Mar 2006

Shippers: Proposed Security Measures Disrupt Commerce

While lawmakers intend to move quickly to pass legislation aimed at improving maritime and cargo security, officials with major shipping and container companies fear some new rules could be disastrous for international commerce. Industry experts worry that new regulations for screening and inspecting cargo could place odious and costly requirements on shippers, and they are urging lawmakers to be cautious. Lawmakers and industry officials agree that more scrutiny needs to be given to what is inside cargo containers, but exactly how that should be done is a matter of dispute. A bill introduced by House Armed Services Chairman Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., for example, would mandate the inspection of all cargo coming into the United States. Another measure by Rep.