Hoyer Opposes Maritime Security Changes
House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) spoke on the House Floor early in October in opposition to Rep. Justin Amash’s (R-MI) amendment to the crude oil export bill, which would eliminate the Maritime Security Program.
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Congressman Hoyer said the amendment would harm America’s national security.
“Under the program that it seeks to eliminate, the Pentagon reserves capacity and roughly 60 US flag commercial ships to ensure the supply and transport of American troops,” Congressman Hoyer said. “It is a program that supports our private sector as well, requiring the Defense Department to contract private commercial ships, rather than building their own, so there is not redundancy but complimentary ability. It is a program that enhances America’s national security by ensuring that our military can depend on U.S. flagged and crewed vessels, instead of foreign ones. It’s a program that supports important domestic maritime jobs.
“In my view, we ought to reject this amendment. [The bill it seeks to change] is legislation that is obviously controversial. I hope [opposition to] this amendment is not controversial and [that it] receives overwhelming bipartisan opposition.”
According to the United States Maritime Administration, on Oct. 8, 1996, the President signed the Maritime Security Act of 1996 establishing the Maritime Security Program (MSP) for Fiscal Years (FY) 1996 through 2005. On November 24, 2003, the President signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2004, which contained the Maritime Security Act of 2003 reauthorizing the MSP for FY 2006 through FY 2015. On January 2, 2013, the President signed the NDAA of 2013 (H.R. 4310) extending the current MSP to FY 2016 through FY 2025. Section 3508 of the NDAA authorized the Secretary of Transportation to extend existing MSP operating agreements through September 30, 2025.
