“Cargo Preference Compliance with and Enforcement of Maritime’s Buy American Laws”
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee:
Good morning. I am Captain Donald Marcus, President of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, AFL-CIO. I am pleased to appear today and to submit this statement on behalf of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots as well as the following seafaring and transportation labor organizations: American Maritime Officers, American Radio Association, Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association, Marine Firemen’s Union, Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO, Seafarers International Union, Sailors’ Union of the Pacific, and Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO. The full enforcement and enhancement of America’s U.S.-flag cargo preference shipping requirements are critically important to our organizations and to the jobs of the thousands of American mariners we represent. Our labor organizations are united in our vigorous support of the U.S.-flag cargo preference shipping requirements, and we thank this Subcommittee for holding this hearing and giving us the opportunity to express our views.
Together, our maritime labor unions represent the vast majority of United States Coast Guard (USCG) licensed and unlicensed American maritime personnel who work aboard commercial vessels of all types and who are among the most highly trained and qualified mariners in the worldwide maritime industry. Our unions and the licensed and unlicensed American merchant mariners we represent have never turned away from the challenges that must be faced to preserve the democratic way of life at home and overseas. As they did at the founding of our nation, during World War II and in every conflict before and since, the men and women of the United States-flag merchant marine stand ready to sail into harm’s way whenever and wherever needed by our country to enhance America’s military and economic interests and to support and supply our armed forces deployed overseas.
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