Senate Hearing on USMMA Issues Scheduled
The Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies of the Senate Committee on Appropriations will hold a hearing on 5 April to examine protecting midshipmen, focusing on preventing sexual assault and sexual harassment at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Senator Susan Collins (R- ME) will chair the meeting. Details of the event can be found HERE Witnesses will include: Mr. Joel Szabat / Executive Director / U.S. Maritime Administration Rear Admiral James Helis / Superintendent / U.S. Merchant Marine Academy The Honorable Calvin Scovel, III / Inspector General / U.S. Department of Transportation
Overwhelming Support for ‘Hit the HMT Target!’
Today, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) applauded a “Dear Colleague” letter to the leadership of the Senate Committee on Appropriations that was signed by 22 senators, urging appropriators to meet the dredging funding commitments made in the 2014 Water Resources Reform & Development Act (WRRDA), passed in May. That letter, together with a similar one circulated through the House earlier this fall to House Appropriations Committee leadership, supports the “Hit the HMT Target!” campaign to impress upon lawmakers the need to annually fund what was authorized in WRRDA. In July, the House approved fiscal 2015 appropriations that hit the HMT target, thanks to a floor amendment put forth by Cong. Janice Hahn (D-CA) and Cong.
HII Bolster Government and Customer Relations Team
Huntington Ingalls Industries made two appointments to its government and customer relations leadership team. Carolyn E. Apostolou has been named vice president for legislative affairs (Senate), and Vice Adm. John "Jay" Donnelly (U.S. Navy, Ret.) has been named vice president of program integration and assessment. Apostolou joined on April 29, and Donnelly reported on May 6. Both report to Mitchell B. Waldman, corporate vice president, government and customer relations. "Carrie and Jay come to us with several decades of experience in their respective fields," Waldman said.
Wrecks of the World II, June 6-7
the World: Evaluating and Addressing Potential Underwater Threats” (WOW) II” on Monday, June 6 and Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) in the Washington, DC area (Linthicum Heights, MD) USA. The conference will explore the problem of potentially polluting wrecks and recent incidents around the world that have caused government agencies and responsible parties to look proactively at preventing catastrophic oil and other chemical releases from these long-submerged shipwrecks which may contain as much as 20 million tons of oil and other hazardous materials. Sporadic or continuous leakages or potential sudden massive spillages from these wrecks pose a continual risk across the globe.
WISTA USA Discusses Regulatory, Enforcement, Congressional Impact
At its Annual General Meeting in Washington, DC in early April, more than 70 WISTA USA members and guests gathered to discuss issues of concern to the maritime community. Leading authorities from the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Department of Justice, regulatory and trade associations, and the U.S. Congress met with shipping professionals to discuss and debate the current status of environmental and enforcement issues and the impact of the 112th Congress on the industry, and to examine strategies for moving forward.
EPA Statement: Use of Oil Dispersant on the Oil Spill
At the legislative hearing on the use of dispersants in the BP oil spill, Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator of the U.S. Chairman Mikulski, Ranking Member Shelby and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify on the role of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill response. My testimony today will provide you with an overview of EPA’s role and activities in the affected Gulf Coast region following the April 20, 2010 Deepwater Horizon mobile offshore drilling unit explosion and resulting oil spill as well as a summary of our primary environmental activities, including dispersant use, waste management, and beach cleanup.
Statement of Adm. Allen before Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
The US Coast Guard posted the statement of Admiral Thad W. Allen, USCG before the Subcommittee on Homeland Security of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. The Commandant discussed the reorganization of the Coast Guard to better serve the nation and promptly respond in times of emergency.
Statement of Asa Hutchinson to Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee
The Senate Committee on Appropriations released the Statement of Asa Hutchinson
Admiral Collins Addresses Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee
The Senate Committee on Appropriations released the Statement of Admiral Thomas Collins
