Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx), Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, announced that he, along with 25 bipartisan members of Congress, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Office of Management and Budget urging the agencies to develop and support a plan to design and replace the ships used by the United State’s six State Maritime Academies (SMAs). “The maritime industry continues to be a key part of our nation’s economy,” said Rep. Crowley. In the letter, the lawmakers expressed concern over the aging multi-mission vessels being used to train future generations of maritime workers and 70 percent of new U.S. Coast Guard licensed officers each year.