Miscellaneous Maritime Transportation Amendments Act of 2016

H.R. 980/S. 373 - Vessel Incidental Discharge Act - Advocacy in support of passage of the legislation or its inclusion in H.R. 4909/S. 2814 National Defense Authorization Act or H.R. 2028 Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act. H.R. 1248/S. 1717 - Delta Queen exemption legislation - Advocacy in support of passage of the legislation, which would allow the Delta Queen to resume operations on the Mississippi River. H.R. 870/S. 1774/S. 2676/S.3044 - Puerto Rico Chapter 9 Uniformity Act (and related legislation) - Advocacy to ensure that modifications or studies of the Jones Act were not considered as part of this legislation. S. 2012 - Energy Policy Modernization Act - Advocacy to ensure that modifications or studies of the Jones Act were not considered as part of this legislation; advocacy in support of reserving some portion of U.S. crude exports for U.S.-Flag carriers. H.R. 2028 - Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act - Advocacy in support of adding H.R. 980/S. 373 Vessel Incidental Discharge Act language to the bill; advocacy in support of appropriating the fully authorized funding level for the Maritime Security Program. H.R. 4900 - Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act - Advocacy to ensure that modifications or studies of the Jones Act were not considered as part of this legislation. H.R. 4909/S. 2814 - National Defense Authorization Act of 2017 - Advocacy in support of the House version of the bill, which included H.R. 980/S. 373 Vessel Incidental Discharge Act language, and advocacy in support of its being included in the final conference report. H.R. 1567/S. 1252 - Global Food Security Act - Advocacy in support of the PL 480 Food for Peace Program; advocacy to ensure that no changes to PL 480 or to cargo preference laws were included within the Act. H.R. 5054/S. 2956 - FY 2017 Agriculture Appropriations Act - Advocacy in support of an increase in the appropriation for the PL 480 Food for Peace Program. H.R. 5303/S. 612 - Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act - Advocacy in support of on-going waterways improvements to improve navigation on inland waterways and to support port dredging programs H.R. 5394/S. 2844 - FY 2017 Transportation/HUD Appropriations Act - Advocacy in support of funding for Maritime Administration related programs, including training vessels for the state maritime academies and Title XI shipbuilding grants. H.R. 5531/H.R. 5978 - Miscellaneous Maritime Transportation Amendments Act of 2016 - Advocacy in support of technical corrections included in this legislation. DRAFT - Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017 - Discussions with House committee staff in regards to priorities to be included in the 2017 authorization when it is finalized. Legislative Proposals and General Issue Areas: Jones Act - On-going discussions with staff about support for the Jones Act and providing rebuttals to anti-Jones Act related lobbying from various non-maritime groups. LNG and oil exports using US-flag shipping proposals - Discussions with staff regarding the potential of reserving certain cargos of LNG and crude oil exports on U.S.-Flag vessels. Maritime Security Program full funding for FY 2017 - Discussions and advocacy to ensure MSP is funded at the fully authorized level in FY 2017. Maritime Security Program full funding for FY 18-23 - Discussions and advocacy to ensure MSP is funded at levels sufficient to maintain the fleet, including increases in authorization and appropriation in future years between FY 18 and FY 23. King's Point (US Merchant Marine Academy) sexual harassment issues - Discussion and participation in meetings with staff regarding the allegations of sexual harassment at the USMMA and potential plans to address it, as well as educating staff on current practices at union affiliated training schools. Tonnage Tax reform - Discussion with staff regarding future tonnage tax reform to expand the program and ensure that IRS guidance and practice reflects Congressional intent in the on-going implementation of the tonnage tax. PL-480 Food Aid funding levels and reform issues - Discussion with staff regarding potential reforms possible to increase the speed and decrease concerns with U.S.-Flag shipping of foreign food aid, as well as discussion about increases in PL-480 appropriations. Cargo Preference - Discussion with staff regarding increases to the cargo preference percentages required under the law, as well as on-going efforts to protect cargo preference in regards to foreign aid and Ex-Im Bank financed cargos. National Maritime Strategy - Discussion with staff over the Maritime Administration's national maritime strategy plan. Maritime regulatory issues - Discussions with staff over regulatory reform issues, particularly those that impact U.S.-Flag carriers but are not present in the foreign sailing international fleet.