Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), speaking yesterday to the Washington, D.C. chapter of the Propeller Club, covered a number of topics that are important to the U.S. maritime community.Among other points, Senator Stevens noted the U.S.-flag fleet’s role in hurricane recovery missions in the Gulf. He said that the Senate Commerce Committee, which he co-chairs, “continues to seek help from your industry to determine how we might assist in quickly recovering from these crises and maintain U.S.-flagged and U.S.-crewed vessels to meet the challenges of business and transportation. That is one of our top priorities.”
He expressed continued support for the U.S. Maritime Security Program and the nation’s cabotage laws.
Additionally, he voiced strong backing of the Title XI shipbuilding loan guarantee program. “With the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, and now, with all of the problems related to these hurricanes, it's essential that we all realize the value of Title XI,” he said.
Senator Stevens concluded, “I think this industry of yours is the best part of the maritime industry in the world. We can keep that going if we maintain the relationship between labor and management that I've known in this association since I first appeared before the Propeller Club.”
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