[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 103 (Thursday, June 22, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



[[Page E 1305]]

                AMERICA NEEDS THE MARITIME SECURITY ACT

                                 ______


                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 22, 1995
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago our world was entrenched in a 
brutal world war that transformed many facets of the global arena. We 
would not have won World War II if it were not for the strength of the 
U.S. merchant marine. If our Nation is to continue being a world 
leader, we must strengthen our merchant marine fleet. Once the largest 
in the world, the 5,000-ship fleet has been diminished to a mere 375 
ships. We as a nation cannot afford to lose anymore ground to the 
countries who are taking over the worlds oceans.
  Many people ask where a threat is coming from that justifies the cost 
of strengthening the U.S. merchant marine. I would answer that question 
with a question. Think back to the night of November 9, 1989, just 6 
years ago, when we all rejoiced to see the Berlin Wall being breached 
and the many Berliners who were dancing at the Brandenburg Gate.
  On that night when we celebrated the lifting of the Iron Curtain in 
Europe and the downfall of the former Soviet Empire, who could have 
imagined that only 14 months later more than 1 million troops would be 
poised for battle in the Persian Gulf? Who could have imagined that the 
United States and its allies would shortly have to begin the largest 
logistical movement of troops and material since World War II?
  My point is simply this: The world remains an extraordinarily 
dangerous and unpredictable place. There is room for legitimate 
argument about what the specific priorities in the defense budget 
should be. But there can be little doubt that we are rapidly reaching 
the
 point where America's defense maritime capabilities will be in real 
jeopardy. This is a risk our country cannot afford to take and we 
should do anything in our power to see to it that America never repeats 
the mistakes of the past, the mistakes that produced a hollow military 
as recently as the late 1970's.

  A strong U.S. flag ship fleet will also lead to many economic 
benefits for our Nation. The creation of over 100,000 at sea and ashore 
would bring in over $4.5 billion in household earnings. With major 
seaports on three coasts, there is no reason why there should not be 
hundreds of ships being built. At the present time there are only two 
ships being built in U.S. ports. This production level puts the United 
States behind Brazil, Croatia, and even Romania in shipbuilding. We 
cannot afford to lose the technological shipbuilding capabilities that 
we have at our disposal in America.
  If something is not done today to strengthen our merchant marine 
fleet, the size of the fleet could drop to 100 ships. We are already 
16th in the world in fleet size and we simply cannot drop any further. 
No world power has ever survived without a merchant fleet and we cannot 
afford to lose more ground in the global competition.
  That is why Congress is now taking steps to fortify our Nation's 
merchant marine. House Resolution 1350--the Maritime Security Act--
which I wholeheartedly support and have sponsored, will stabilize our 
national security fleet. This bill proposes that $2 million be set 
aside each year for 10 years in order to increase the amount of 
merchant vessels in the U.S. fleet. This same bill passed the House 
last year, but stalled in the Senate. This year, however, Senator Trent 
Lott has spearheaded the drive to get this bill through the Senate and 
he believes that this year will be different.
  Aside from creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and enhancing our 
economic base in the maritime industry, the Maritime Security Act will 
ensure security overseas for all American citizens who depend on the 
merchant marines. During the Persian Gulf war over 20 percent of goods, 
ammunition, and supplies were transported on foreign subsidized flag 
ships. Some of these ships refused to enter into enemy waters to 
deliver vital goods to our soldiers. This fact is frightening. If we do 
not strengthen our merchant marine fleet, we will be putting our men 
and women in the Armed Forces in tremendous danger.
  The United States must have a strong fleet of American ships with 
American trained crews to supply our troops in the event of an 
emergency or war. During World War II, our own merchant fleet with its 
American crews sacrificed their lives to provide their comrades in 
foreign lands with needed supplies. We need to have that security in 
today's world also, for there are thousands of men and women in the 
Armed Forces overseas who must not be neglected.
  The United States has many global interests that must be preserved. 
In order to maintain these interests and further America's lead in the 
global sphere, we must have access to foreign markets through the 
oceans. The Maritime Security Act will be the first step toward 
accomplishing that goal by strengthening America's merchant marine 
fleet. I urge support for this vital legislation.


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