Proposed Changes to 'Food for Peace' Program Resisted
USA Maritime, a coalition of ship owning companies, maritime labor organizations & maritime trade associations states its position. USA Maritime Chairman James L. Henry corrects reports about the efficacy of the U.S. Merchant Marine in delivering U.S. food aid and to comment on the detrimental effects of proposed changes to the Food for Peace Program (PL 480) offered in the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2014 budget. “The United States is the largest provider of nutrition to the hungry and undernourished, contributing about 60 percent of the world’s food aid.
MEBE Calls for Protection of Food Peace Program Jobs
The Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A.) calls for continued funding of the Food for Peace (PL 480) & Food for Progress programs. MEBA stands with 21 U.S. Senators and its United States maritime industry partners in protecting thousands of U.S. maritime and agricultural jobs by calling for continued funding of the Food for Peace (PL 480) and Food for Progress programs. These programs, administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development, create necessary cargo for the U.S.-Flag shipping industry through the delivery of vital overseas food assistance. Recently, M.E.B.A. learned that the Obama Administration is considering major budgetary changes to these programs…
MEBA Calls for Food For Peace Funding
The Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association calls for the protection of U.S. maritime and agricultural jobs. The Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A.) stands with 21 U.S. Senators and its United States maritime industry partners in protecting thousands of U.S. maritime and agricultural jobs by calling for continued funding of the Food for Peace (PL 480) and Food for Progress programs. These programs, administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development, create necessary cargo for the U.S.-Flag shipping industry through the delivery of vital overseas food assistance. Recently, M.E.B.A. learned that the Obama Administration is considering major budgetary changes to these programs…
USA Maritime Applaud Caucus Launch
USA Maritime & its member organizations applaud the launch of a new bipartisan Congressional Maritime Caucus. The organization also thanked the new Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Cedric Richmond (LA-02) and Michael G. Grimm (NY-11) for their work in helping to raise awareness about critical maritime-related issues. “USA Maritime is proud to welcome the new Congressional Maritime Caucus. We look forward to a strong and successful working relationship with the new Co-Chairs Cedric Richmond and Michael Grimm and the membership of the Caucus as we strive to ensure the long-term readiness of the U.S.-flag fleet,” said James L. Henry, Chairman of USA Maritime. “At a time of great budgetary uncertainty, the U.S.
U.S. Cargo Preference Billing
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Transportation released a report stating that the Maritime Administration (MARAD) is required to reimburse the Department of Agriculture (USDA) for “excess” ocean freight costs that food assistance programs incur in order to comply with cargo preference statutes. There is a dispute between MARAD and USDA regarding how to calculate the amount owed. USDA recently billed MARAD $379 million in excess freight charges. OIG reviewed the billing in accordance with Government Auditing Standards and concludes that MARAD owes USDA a total of $164 million, rather than the $379 million billed. Report Number FI-2004-057 (HK Law).
U.S. Navy Boards Ship After Pirate Attack
CNN has reported that passengers were allowed off the Seabourn Cruise Lines' Spirit and went back to scheduled events with a sightseeing tour of the Seychelles, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean. The 150 passengers had been on board when pirates in two boats armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades attacked the Spirit on Saturday, Deborah Natansohn, president of the cruise line, told CNNRadio. Members of a Navy explosives ordnance disposal team led by Lt. John Stewart inspected some unexploded munitions and saw where a rocket-propelled grenade round had struck. The Navy team removed the remains of the ordnance from the ship. On Thursday, the U.N. World Food Program warned that hijackings off Somalia were restricting the delivery of food assistance to the country.
