Full Committee News

Roger Wicker, a U.S. Senator from Mississippi, urged Acting Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa M. Franchetti to focus on shipbuilding and the expansion of the nation's naval forces.Wicker, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on Thursday led a full committee hearing examining the nomination of Franchetti to become the next Chief of Naval Operations.In his remarks, Wicker observed that China’s naval buildup and the United States’ shrinking Navy leave our…

An Inland River Transportation Caucus could help inland river transportation interests that are often misunderstood and greatly undervalued.For anyone doing business on the inland river transportation system, the goal is to keep the rivers open for business, the barges moving and the landside facilities efficient in order to keep America’s supply chain strong.To accomplish this, it takes the federal agencies that are charged with operating and maintaining inland rivers to have the support of congress, the funding congress allocates and legislation passed by congress.

While those in the Beltway continue to struggle to offer solutions to U.S. supply chain capacity issues, it seems apparent that policymakers have at least found their scapegoat for these issues in the form of the maritime industry. A specific talking point during the State of Union Address, a White House-endorsed agreement between the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) and Department of Justice (DOJ), multiple pieces of legislation, and a vigorous hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce…

After years of much talk but little action, major infrastructure funding from Congress now looks like it might actually happen. This in turn has prompted a restoration of the availability of earmarks, which had been, until about a decade ago, part and parcel of the congressional funding process. Within our nation’s inland waterways industry, hopes have been high that the rejuvenation of our country’s transportation infrastructure will include our inland waterborne commerce, and that…

In response to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the Congressional Research Service released a report that stated global economic growth has declined by 3% to 6% in 2020 with a partial recovery predicted for 2021. Also, the GDP of the U.S. has fallen by 5% in the first quarter 2020. According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the maritime industry, and seafarers themselves, have not been able to escape the significant effects of this crisis.All sectors of the maritime industry have been adversely affected by the global pandemic.

Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) today praised the House Appropriations Committee’s Energy & Water Subcommittee approval, by unanimous voice vote, the FY ’15 appropriations bill that funds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works program. Fiscal year 2015 funding for the Corps’ Civil Works mission is $5.493 billion, an increase of $25 million above the FY ’14 enacted level and nearly $1 billion ($959.5 million) above the President's budget request. *Navigation projects (undesignated) will receive an increase of $484 million above the Administration’s request. *Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF) supported projects received an increase of $112 million or a total of $281 million for priority projects in FY ’15.

The Subcommittee on Energy and Power today approved H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act, by a vote of 15 to 11. Authored by Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), the legislation would cut through the red tape blocking exports of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG). H.R. 6 grants immediate approval of complete export applications currently filed with the Department of Energy and modifies the process moving forward to ensure exports to our allies are no longer subject to unnecessary delays. The need for increased LNG exports has received considerable attention in the wake of the crisis in Ukraine and as Russia continues to leverage its energy resources against our allies. Exporting American natural gas would increase global competition, and passage of H.R.

The Panel on 21st Century Freight Transportation published its final report on United States freight transportation, offering an assessment of its current condition with recommendations for strengthening nationwide infrastructure and U.S. economy. The panel, led by its Chairman, U.S. Rep John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN) and Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), was founded by Full Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) and Ranking Member Nick J. Rahall, II (D-W.Va.) in April 2013 to examine U.S. freight transportation, the role it plays on the nation’s economy and ways in which it may be improved, including financially, structurally and technologically. Direct the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the Secretary of the Army and the Commandant of the U.S.

Statement by FMCS Director on United States Maritime Alliance & International Longshoremen's Association Labor Negotiations. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) director George H. "I am pleased to announce that five days of productive negotiations between the parties concluded on Saturday and that negotiations will resume next week under the auspices of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. Further, I wish to commend the parties for their hard work and commitment to this process. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, created in 1947, is an independent U.S. government agency whose mission is to preserve and promote labor-management peace and cooperation.

Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee to meet on September 11, 2012 at USCG Headquarters. AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory Committee Meeting. SUMMARY: The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) will meet in Washington, DC, to discuss various issues related to the training and fitness of merchant marine personnel. This meeting will be open to the public. DATES: MERPAC working groups will meet on September 11, 2012, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., and the full committee will meet briefly on the morning of September 11 and on September 12, 2012, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. may adjourn early if all business is finished. Written comments to be distributed to committee members and placed on MERPAC’s website are due August 31, 2012.

It appears that the considerable, unrelenting lobbying effort of shipbuilders and Navy leaders has finally worked. According to a wire reports, a House of Representatives panel on Tuesday, April 30, voted to spend $3.2 billion more on military hardware than the President asked for, a sum which includes an additional $1 billion for Navy Ships. Reuters reported that the House Armed Services procurement subcommittee approved a plan to provide $73.4 billion for aircraft, submarines, missile defense and other military hardware for next fiscal year that starts in October. It is part of the $396 billion defense bill the full committee is to consider on Wednesday that lays the groundwork for President George W. Bush's plan for the biggest military buildup in more than two decades.

Houston/Galveston Navigation Safety Advisory Committee (HOGANSAC) will hold its next public meetings on September 5, 2002 (working groups only) and September 19, 2002 (full committee), at the offices of the Houston Pilots Association in Houston, Texas. The notice appears in the July 25, 2002, Federal Register. Source: Marine Legal Update

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.

After approval of a nearly $31.25 billion funding bill that includes $5.29 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works program, American Association of Port Authorities President/CEO Kurt Nagle praised the Senate Appropriations Committee and its chairman, Sen. Nagle also applauded Energy & Water Subcommittee Chairman Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) for his work in providing the leadership for developing and moving the bill through the subcommittee mark-up process and sponsoring the bill in full committee. "The Senate Committee’s approval today of $5.29 billion for the Corps’ FY’06 Civil Works program is a very positive signal that navigation projects at our nation’s seaports will get more of the funds they critically need to start…

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…

U.S. Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, today (June 26, 2007) convened the Subcommittee to mark up the Integrated Deepwater Program Reform Act, H.R. 2722 and the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007, H.R. 2830, which would reauthorize the Coast Guard. Both bills were adopted by voice vote. Congressman Cummings said, "The Integrated Deepwater Program Reform Act, H.R. "In response to the issues we have examined during the oversight hearings our Subcommittee has convened on Deepwater, H.R. "The bill also requires the appointment of a civilian Chief Acquisitions Officer.

President's request. private sector. established priorities for homeland security. from future terrorist attacks. million above the amounts proposed by the President. billion. and testing. security operations). This includes $2 billion for U.S. security activities. $530 million for "Deepwater". $10 million for transit security and training. million above amounts requested by the President. excellence. 2003 enacted levels. infrastructure. $1.15 billion for the U.S. operations centers.

U.S. Senator Fritz Hollings (D-SC), Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, announced today a full Committee hearing on the implementation of the Port and Maritime Security Act on Tuesday, February 19th, 2002, at 1:30 PM at the Charleston, S.C., Maritime Center. Witnesses will include: Panel I, Norman Y. Mineta, Secretary of Transportation; Admiral James M. Loy, Commandant, United States Coast Guard; Robert C. Bonner, Commissioner, United States Customs Service; Panel II, Joseph P. Riley, Jr., Mayor of Charleston; Keith Summey, Mayor of North Charleston, Bernard S. Groseclose, Jr., President and CEO, South Carolina State Port ; Robert M. Burdette, City of Mt. Pleasant, City Administrator, Municipal Complex; Major Alvin A.

On July 27, the Senate Commerce Committe will hold a full Committee hearing to consider the following nominations: Charles Nottingham to be a Member of the Surface Transportation Board; Robert Sumwalt to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board; Nathaniel Wienecke to be Assistant Secretary for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, Department of Commerce; Jay Cohen to be Under Secretary for Science and Technology, Department of Homeland Security; and Sean Connaughton to be Administrator of the Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation. (Source: http://commerce.senate.gov)

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, introduced the Integrated Deepwater Program Reform Act to bring significant reform to the Coast Guard's highly troubled $24b, 25-year Deepwater acquisitions program. Chairman Cummings was joined in introducing the Act by Congressman James L. Oberstar (D-MN), Chairman of the full Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Among other reforms, the Act would prohibit the use of a private sector lead systems integrator for the Deepwater program two years after its enactment, require the use of full and open competition for acquisitions made under Deepwater…