The legislation signed early this morning by President Obama to reopen and fund the Federal government through January 15, 2014, also contains a funding provision for the Maritime Security Program that was strongly supported by the U.S.-flag maritime industry. The MSP provision restores a $12 million shortfall anomaly in the program and guarantees that each of the 60 U.S.-flag vessels in the MSP program will receive full funding from October 1, 2013 through January 15, 2014. It also means that all the ships participating in the Maritime Security Program will remain in the MSP during this period. Under the terms of the legislation signed by President Obama, Congress must agree on long-term government funding legislation prior to January 15 in order to prevent another government shut-down.