Merchant Marine Allies Partnership Act

H.R. 1 / No Direct Senate Companion - One Big Beautiful Bill - Discussions with staff regarding shipbuilding provisions and tax provisions in the bill. H.R. 4275 / S. 524 - Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 - Discussions with staff regarding provisions in the bill, advocacy in support of the legislation's inclusion in the NDAA. H.R. 1207 / S. 525 - To transfer the functions, duties, responsibilities, assets, liabilities, orders, determinations, rules, regulations, permits, grants, loans, contracts, agreements, certificates, licenses, and privileges of the United States Agency for International Development relating to implementing and administering the Food for Peace Act to the Department of Agriculture - Advocacy in support of the legislation. H.R. 2035 / No Senate Companion - American Cargo for American Ships Act - Discussions with staff regarding cargo preference laws. Advocacy in support of the legislation. H.R. 2125 / No Senate Companion - SOS Act of 2025 - Discussions with staff regarding the provisions of the bill, advocacy in support of the legislation. H.R. 2390 / No Senate Companion - Maritime Supply Chain Security Act - Discussions with staff regarding the legislation, advocacy in support of the legislation. H.R. 3151 / S. 1541 / S. 1536 - Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act (SHIPS for America Act) - On-going discussions with staff regarding the reintroduction of the SHIPS for America Act, concerns regarding various provisions, and overall support and advocacy for the legislation. H.R. 3331 / No Senate Companion - Mariner Exam Modernization Act - Discussions with staff regarding testing provisions. Advocacy in support of the legislation. H.R. 3838 / S. 2296 - National Defense Authorization Act for FY 26 - Discussions with staff regarding inclusion of the Coast Guard bill and other maritime priorities in the legislation. Advocacy in support of the legislation. H.R. 4552 / S. 2465 - Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and related Agencies Appropriations Act 2026 - Discussions with staff regarding funding for the MSP, TSP and CSP fleets. Advocacy in support of the Senate version of the legislation. H.R. 4813 / No Senate Companion - Noncontiguous Disaster Shipping Act - Advocacy in opposition to the legislation. H.R. 4839 / No Senate Companion - Merchant Marine Allies Partnership Act - Advocacy in opposition to the legislation. H.R. 5109 / No Senate Companion - To require the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration of the United States to develop guidelines to improve returning citizens' access to the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program, to assist individuals in custody of Federal, State, and local prisons in pre-applying or preparing applications for Transportation Worker Identification Credential cards, and to assist individuals requesting an appeal or waiver of preliminary determination of ineligibility, and for other purposes - Discussions with staff regarding impact of TWIC background checks on maritime industry. H.R. 5371 et. al. / S. 2882 et. al. - Continuing Appropriations Acts - Discussions with staff regarding the impact of a shutdown on the U.S. maritime industry, and advocacy in support of passage of funding bills to keep the government open. Legislative Initiatives and General Issue Areas: Cargo Preference - Ongoing discussions in regard to increasing the percentages of cargo reserved under cargo preference programs to the U.S.-Flag fleet, education regarding cargo preference and its importance to the industry, and American economic and national security Cable Ship / Maritime Security / Tanker Fleet Security Program funding and issues - On-going discussions with staff over these stipend programs and their future needs, funding, and reauthorizations, as well as concerns regarding the current gap between authorized levels and appropriated funds under the continuing resolution. Coast Guard Credentialing Issues - Ongoing discussions with members and staff regarding difficulties in obtaining initial and renewed credentials for Merchant Mariners through the Coast Guards National Maritime Center. Coast Guard Training Certification Issues - Ongoing discussions with members and staff regarding difficulties in obtaining timely certification of training courses for Merchant Mariners through the Coast Guards National Maritime Center. Coast Guard Able Seafarer Training Program Issues - On-going discussions with members and staff over potential legislative changes to help bring existing, decades-long training programs into compliance with new Coast Guard interpretations of existing statutes and regulations regarding the sea service training time requirements for Able -Bodied Seamen serving in the deck department on vessels in the United States Merchant Marine. Executive Order on Shipbuilding - Discussions with Congressional and White House staff on the President's Executive Order on shipbuilding. Government Shutdown - Discussions with staff regarding the impact of a government shutdown on the maritime industry. Jones Act - On-going discussions with staff regarding issues relating to the Jones Act, including wind-farm development, and Administration actions on waivers, Customs and Border Protection administrative rulings regarding Jones Act application to OCSLA, staff briefings on the importance of the law and implementation of last year's NDAA provisions. Mariner Recruitment and Retention - Discussions with staff regarding concerns about mariner recruitment, the current mariner shortage, and retention efforts within the industry USAID/Food for Peace Funding Freeze - Discussions with staff regarding the impacts of the administration's changes to Food Aid and the lack of cargo moving. USAID/USDA Program Transfer - Discussions with offices regarding the movement of program responsibilities for foreign aid from USAID to USDA. USTR Sec. 301 Investigation on Chinese Maritime Practices - Discussions with staff regarding implementation of USTR's 301 ruling.