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House Of Representatives Committee News

10 May 2022

Interview: Richard Balzano, Dredging Contractors of America

Richard Balzano (Photo: DCA)

Richard Balzano took over as CEO and executive director of the Dredging Contractors of America in December 2020. And while he says he’s “still fairly new to the [dredging] industry”, he certainly knows his way around the business, having held a number of prominent roles over the course of more than 30 years in the maritime and U.S government sectors. His resume is impressive. A combat veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan, he retired from the U.S. Navy at the rank of Captain. He later served as the presidentially appointed Deputy Maritime Administrator for three years…

03 Nov 2020

Cruise Lines Extend Operational Pause Through Year End

© gladchenko / Adobe Stock

The cruise industry will extend its suspension of U.S. cruise operations through Dec. 31, an industry group that represents 95% of global ocean-going cruise capacity said on Tuesday.The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said its members will use the remainder of the year to prepare for the implementation of measures to address COVID-19 safety issues.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday issued a framework for a phased resumption of cruise ship operations after a no-sail order issued in March in response to the coronavirus pandemic was to expire on Saturday.

30 Oct 2020

US CDC Issues Framework for Resumption of Cruise Ship Operations

© Solarisys / Adobe Stock

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday issued a framework for a phased resumption of cruise ship operations after a no-sail order issued in March in response to the coronavirus pandemic expires on Saturday.The CDC said it was requiring testing and additional safeguards for crew members. A U.S. House of Representatives committee is investigating if the White House blocked the CDC from extending the no-sail order through mid-February.The no-sail order issued in March came amid a rising number of coronavirus cases on cruise ships.

18 Mar 2020

Rewrite the Rules: The Path to Zero Emissions

First-of-its-kind cargo vessel Captain Ben Moore delivers local produce and food across Long Island Sound. Built by Derecktor Shipyards, the aluminum catamaran is powered by two Cummins QSB 6.7 diesels, and lithium batteries connected to a pair of BAE Systems HybriDrive electric motors.  (Credit: Harbor Harvest)

With social media updates and conference agendas addressing the subjects of climate change, emissions reductions and alternative fuels, it’s a wonder we are not climbing the Himalayans in search of the Jedi Master that will provide us with the magic potion. Yoda’s blessing with a calming breath, “You have chosen wisely.”Government emissions intervention started with a move to reduce energy and fuel consumption measured in greenhouse gas (GHG), at a time when the world and our politicians spoke about global warming.

02 May 2019

Senator Cassidy: No Jones Act Waiver

A Republican U.S. senator on Wednesday said President Donald Trump will not waive rules requiring that only U.S.-flagged ships move natural gas from American ports to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Northeast.The nearly 100-year-old Jones Act mandates the use of U.S.-flagged vessels to transport merchandise between U.S. coasts. Republican senators said the administration was seriously considering waiving the requirements for 10 years. Bloomberg News reported last week that Trump was leaning in favor of some kind of waiver.Senator Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, told reporters on a conference call that Trump told Republican lawmakers he would not support a waiver.

30 Apr 2019

Trump to Meet with GOP Senators on Jones Act

The El Coqui, a U.S. flag ConRo carrier, recently built specifically for the Jones Act Caribbean trades and powered by environmentally friendly LNG. CREDIT: Crowley Maritime

President Donald Trump is set to meet with Republican senators on Wednesday over a proposal to waive rules that only U.S.-flagged ships can move natural gas from American ports to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Northeast.The nearly 100-year-old Jones Act mandates the use of U.S.-flagged vessels to transport merchandise between U.S. coasts. Bloomberg News reported last week the administration was seriously considering waiving the requirements for some energy shipments and that Trump…

11 Sep 2013

AAPA Commends U.S. T&I Committee for Advancing Water Resources Legislation

Nagle Kurt

Following an announcement today by the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) President and CEO Kurt Nagle lauded the leaders of these committees for championing legislation that moves the nation closer to a final water resources bill to spur vitally needed maintenance and improvements in America’s seaport-related infrastructure and waterways.

03 Jul 2013

Foxx Sworn in as 17th U.S. Secretary of Transportation

Anthony Foxx is sworn in as U.S. Secretary of Transportation by Judge Nathaniel Jones with wife, Samara, and children, Hillary and Zachary.

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx was sworn in as the nation’s 17th Secretary of Transportation by Judge Nathaniel Jones in a private ceremony at U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters at 11 a.m. yesterday (July 2). The ceremony was attended by Foxx’s wife, Samara, and their two children, Hillary and Zachary, and used a Bible belonging to Secretary Foxx’s great-grandparents, Peter and Ida Kelly. Secretary Foxx worked for Judge Jones as a law clerk for the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals after law school and invited Judge Jones to administer the oath of office today.

24 Apr 2013

Former Congress Lawyer to Serve as AdvanFort Legal Counsel

AdvanFort Company said attorney Sheila R. Schreiber has come onboard as its in-house legal counsel. Schreiber brings experience in the private and public sectors. She is a former litigation partner with Howrey LLP, served as counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary and has extensive experience in the national and international sales of industrial products. Her specialties include commercial, regulatory, employment, intellectual property, corporate and antitrust matters. Schreiber is a cum laude graduate of the University of Pittsburgh law school where she was a member of the Law Review. Her bar and court memberships include the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

23 Jul 2012

Nigeria Fines Shell US$ 5-billion for Oil Spill

Dr. Peter Idabor, Director General, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) was quoted by  local media as announcing the fine against Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Environment, reports 'AfriqueJet - Afrique Actualité Information'. He said the sum was an “administrative penalty” considering the large quantity of crude oil discharged into the environment by SNEPCo and the impact of the incident on the water and aquatic life. The 40,000 barrels of crude oil that were spilled at Bonga impacted approximately on 950 square kilometres of water surface…

26 Jun 2012

Industry Looks to RAMP Act to Meet Dredging Needs

hopper dredge McFarland dredging Southwest Pass in 2010.

Silt accumulation and dredging that's been postponed for years have prevented the full use of U.S. waterways and ports, maritime industry leaders said last month. Hundreds of U.S. ports and harbors are meant to be maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to foster navigation. But many of the country's channels are not kept at their authorized depths, and last year the backlog of needed dredging projects swelled. Meanwhile, just over half the fees charged to shippers through the federal Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are spent on maintenance and operations…

04 Oct 2007

Nigerian House Navy Committee Tackles Illegal Bunkering

Illegal oil bunkering is one of the many problems militating against the smooth running of the oil industry in Nigeria. This problem has been acknowledged by the House of Representatives Committee on Navy, which was recently inaugurated by the Speaker, Hon. (Mrs) Patricia Olubunmi Etteh. Beginning almost five decades ago, the House of Representatives Committee on Navy, has been fighting illegal oil bunkering. Hon. Adamu in his address at the occasion lamented the colossal sums of money being lost, estimated at almost $2m a day, by the country to the activities of illegal bunkering in the sector. According to Adamu, his committee would take a dispassionate look at the Navy Act of 1964…