U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta reaffirmed the Bush Administration’s support for the U.S. Merchant Marine during remarks to the executive board of the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO, March 4 in Hollywood, Fla.Lt. General Gary Hughey, deputy commander, U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM); Vice Admiral David Brewer, commander, U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC); Thomas Mackell, managing director, The Kamber Group; Stephen Van Dyck, chairman, Maritrans; and Robert Pearlman, president and CEO, Diabetes Research Institute, also addressed the MTD board.
Secretary Mineta stated, “The maritime industry is essential to our economic strength and to our productivity, as well as in the creation of American jobs. Nearly 27 percent of our economy comes from international trade, and much of that trade comes to our shores over the water….
“The Bush Administration has great respect for the role of the merchant marine, and tremendous confidence in its future. That respect and confidence is reflected in the new expanded Maritime Security Program that President Bush signed into law in December….
“The Maritime Security Program, the Jones Act and cargo preference laws are essential elements of America’s national maritime policy. This administration supports these laws and programs and, in addition, we are examining other proposals to build on that foundation….”
He mentioned the various agencies that oversee the industry and added, “I have called for a comprehensive marine transportation system initiative – a full-scale review of current policies, with recommendations that will seek to increase the competitive standing of our domestic shipping industry.”
Secretary Mineta also stated, “While infrastructure is important, the heart and soul of our maritime system is its merchant mariners – the men and women who make this system work, day in and day out. I recognize that America’s Merchant Marine competes against foreign-flag vessels whose owners and crews pay minimal taxes. For this reason, I am advocating that the Bush Administration should carefully examine the tax burdens on the maritime industry and our mariners, with the goal of improving our fleet and our workers and their ability to compete internationally.”
Lt. General Hughey discussed Operation Iraqi Freedom and asserted that the sealift mission was much more efficient than that of the Persian Gulf War.
“During Desert Shield and Desert Storm, we delivered a lot of things. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, we delivered combat capability,” he said.
He credited U.S. mariners with creating “a steel bridge (of military support ships) that was and is maintained today by this nation’s merchant mariners, who sailed in harm’s way to deliver America’s power on distant shores and who stand ready to repeat that accomplishment anytime, anywhere…. The legacy of the U.S.-flag fleet in deploying and maintaining our war fighters cannot be overstated. OIF would not have happened without you. OIF couldn’t have happened without your vitality, determination and commitment.”
Lt. General Hughey concluded, “We will win the global war on terrorism. We will defeat this new ‘ism,’ just like we defeated fascism in World War II and communism during the Cold War. I also know that our merchant mariners will go in harm’s way on a moment’s notice to maintain our war fighters, anyplace and anytime. The U.S.-flag fleet and our merchant mariners will literally carry forth our nation’s strength and resolve.”
Vice Admiral Brewer described the maritime industry as “America’s greatest and most vital industry.”
He explained MSC’s role and said the agency couldn’t get the job done without the “unsung heroes” who are members of MTD unions.
Vice Admiral Brewer also discussed the USS Coronado “test program,” which marks the first time civilian mariners are deployed on a Navy ship in support of a combat mission. (There are 146 CIVMARS on the Coronado.) He is very confident the program will succeed.
He cited an old blues song that notes, “‘You don’t miss your water until your well runs dry.’ This industry is the well that pumps the cargo, the commerce, and all of those good things that keep this country running. It’s because of you – because you are pumping that cargo and maintaining those ships and maintaining commands like mine – we are carrying the torch of freedom into the tyranny of darkness…. People in uniform cannot get this job done without you. You are, as far as I am concerned, our right hand in this war on terrorism.”
He closed, “My fellow Americans, it’s the soldier, the sailor, the airman, the Marine, the Coast Guardsman, and yes, the maritime team members who understand best that freedom is not free.”
Mackell discussed general worker issues including health care and the economy.
Van Dyck offered detailed remarks about the domestic industry and ways to improve it.
Pearlman described the organization’s work and thanked the unions of the MTD for their support.
Among those scheduled to speak at the MTD meeting on March 5 are U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow; AFL-CIO President John Sweeney; U.S. Maritime Administrator Capt. William Schubert; U.S. Representative James Clyburn (D-S.C.); U.S. Representative Gene Green (D-Texas); United Food and Commercial Workers Union President Doug Dority; and Stephen Cotton, head of the Special Seafarers’ Department for the London-based International Transport Workers’ Federation.
The Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO is composed on 29 international unions and 24 port maritime councils in the United States and Canada representing 6.5 million working men and women.
The SIU is an MTD affiliate.
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