Marine Highway Promotion Act

S. 707 / H.R. 1819 - Energizing American Shipbuilding Act of 2021 - Discussions with staff over the legislative language, and advocacy in support of the legislation. No House Companion / S.3270 - Maritime Administration Reauthorization Act - Discussions with staff regarding provisions within the bill, including the Elijah Cummings Ship American Act, advocacy in support of the legislation. H.R. 2471 / No Direct Senate Companion (multiple Senate bills combined) - Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 - Discussions with staff regarding maritime provisions, advocacy in support of the legislation H.R. 4886 / S. 3580 - Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 - Discussions with staff regarding issues related to U.S.-flag companies that could be impacted by the legislation. H.R. 5706 / No Senate Companion - Stop Sexual Assault and Harassment in Transportation Act - Discussions with staff regarding issues with sexual harassment and sexual assault within the U.S.-flag fleet. Advocacy in support of the legislation. H.R. 5964 / S. 3196 - Improving Protections for Midshipmen Act - Discussions with staff regarding issues with sexual harassment and sexual assault within the U.S.-flag fleet. Advocacy in support of the legislation. H.R. 6728 / S. 3705 - American Offshore Worker Fairness Act - Discussions with members and staff regarding issues with the offshore fleet and potential impacts on the offshore wind industry. H.R. 6864 / No Senate Companion - Ocean Shipping Antitrust Enforcement Act - Discussions with staff regarding potential impacts to U.S.-flag fleet. H.R. 6865 / Senate Draft - Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 - Discussions with staff regarding a variety of provisions, advocacy in support of the legislation. H.R. 6866 / No Senate Companion - Safer Seas Act - Discussions with staff over issues relating to the merchant marine and handling of sexual assault and sexual harassment issues aboard U.S.-flag vessels. H.R. 7131 / No Senate Companion - Great Lakes Authority Act - Discussions with members and staff regarding the legislation. H.R. 7171 / N Senate Companion - American LNG First Act - Advocacy in opposition to the legislation. H.R. 7344 / No Senate Companion - Ports Not Windmills Act - Advocacy in opposition to the legislation. H.R. 7456 / S. 3807 - SHIP IT Act - Advocacy in opposition to the legislation's Jones Act waivers. S. 3816 / No House Companion - Marine Highway Promotion Act - Advocacy in support of the legislation. S. 4040 / No House Companion - Ship Agent Licensure Act of 2022 - Discussion with staff regarding potential impacts on U.S.-flag fleet. Legislative Initiatives and General Issue Areas: Cargo Preference - On-going discussions in regards to increasing the percentages of cargo reserved under cargo preference programs to the U.S.-Flag fleet, and creating a new preference program for cargoes that may become available under the Jobs Act. Coast Guard Credentialing Issues - On-going 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 - On-going discussions with members and staff regarding difficult in obtaining timely certification of training courses for Merchant Mariners through the Coast Guards National Maritime Center. Coast Guard Able-Bodied Seamen 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. Jones Act - On-going discussions with staff regarding issues relating to the Jones Act, including wind-farm development and concerns with the effects of COVID. Ligado Order Recession - On-going discussions with staff regarding the potential impact of the Ligado Order on the maritime industry, in particular GPS and other maritime positioning systems. Maritime Security Program full funding for FY 22 - Discussions and advocacy to ensure MSP is funded at levels sufficient to maintain the fleet. Maritime tax issues - Preliminary discussions with staff around potential tax reforms to help promote the U.S.-flag merchant fleet. Nominations - Discussions with staff regarding timing and questions for nominees for maritime related posts within the Federal government requiring Senate confirmation. Offshore Wind OCSLA Issues - On-going discussions with members regarding issues around Customs and Border Protection guidance concerning use of US-Flag ships for movements of cargo to the pristine seabed in the Outer Continental Shelf for wind farm development, including issues regarding Customs and Border Protection guidance on OCSLA and the Jones Act in regards to off-shore wind installations. Passenger Vessel Services Act Waivers - On-going discussions with staff regarding issues surrounding the PVSA and its impact on certain cruise related voyages to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Issues in the Fleet - Discussions with staff regarding issues surrounding sexual harassment and sexual assault on ships in the U.S.-flag fleet, and potential legislative steps to address it. Supply Chain Issues - Discussions with staff and members about the on-going national issues with supply chains, the lack of relationship between those supply chain issues and the Jones Act and the U.S.-flag fleet in general, and potential legislative fixes to address it. Tanker Security Program Authorization - Discussions with staff regarding potential legislative changes to the Tanker Security Program to make it more viable. United States Virgin Islands Second Registry - Discussions with staff and members, advocacy in opposition to the creation of a second US-Flag registry via the Virgin Islands.