[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 109 (Friday, June 30, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1371-E1372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       GEN. COLIN POWELL--REMARKS ON THE U.S.-FLAG MERCHANT MARINE

                                 ______

                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 30, 1995
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, a strong Merchant Marine Fleet is vital to 
our national defense and economy. Without a strong fleet, the United 
States would become dependent on foreign ships, thus endangering its 
ability to respond to crisis situations overseas.
  On June 15, 1992, Gen. Colin Powell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff, delivered the commencement address to the U.S. Merchant Marine 
Academy. In his remarks, General Powell talked about the strategic 
importance of the U.S.-flag merchant marine and American merchant 
mariners. His statements clearly rebut the comments made in the Wall 
Street Journal and by other critics demeaning both the role played by 
the merchant marine during the Persian Gulf war and the need to 
maintain a strong maritime industry to meet future national defense 
needs. General Powell said the following:

       Since I became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I 
     have come to appreciate first hand why our merchant marine 
     has long been called the nation's fourth arm of defense.
       The American seafarer provides an essential service to the 
     well-being of the nation, as was demonstrated so clearly 
     during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Merchant 
     Marines . . . worked side-by-side with soldiers, sailors, 
     airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen to get the job done that 
     needed to be done. . .
       Fifty years ago today, U.S. merchant vessels operated by 
     your forbears were battling the frigid seas of the North 
     Atlantic to provide the lifeline to our allies in Europe. The 
     sacrifice of those mariners was essential to keeping us in 
     the war until we could go on the offensive. . . In World War 
     II, enemy attacks sank more than 700 U.S. flag vessels and 
     claimed the lives of more than 6,000 civilian seafarers. . .
       For too many years, the pivotal contribution of the 
     merchant marine to our victory in World War II has been 
     overlooked. But now the situation has begun to be rectified. 
     America is eternally grateful to all those who served in our 
     merchant marine over the years for their efforts, their 
     commitment and their sacrifice in defense of our beloved 
     America. They are second to none. . .
       Sealift was the workhorse of our deployment and sustainment 
     operations. Ninety-Five percent of all equipment and supplies 


[[Page E1372]]
     reached the Persian Gulf by ship. . . We also activated the Ready 
     Reserve Force for the first time. By late February, there 
     were some 500 merchant marines employed by the Military 
     Sealift Command serving in the Gulf on the high seas. . .
       The war in the Persian Gulf is over, but the merchant 
     marine's contribution to our nation continues. In war, 
     merchant seamen have long served with valor and distinction 
     by carrying critical supplies and equipment to our troops in 
     far away lands. In peacetime, the merchant marine has another 
     vital role--contributing to our economic security by linking 
     us to our trading partners around the world and providing the 
     foundation for our ocean commerce.
       The United States today remains the world's leader, with 
     global interests and responsibilities. We are a maritime 
     nation. Our strategy demands that we have access to foreign 
     markets, to energy, to mineral resources, and to the oceans. 
     We must be able to project power across the seas.
       This means that not only do we need a strong Navy, but a 
     strong maritime industry as well. For, as the brilliant naval 
     strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan once wrote, ``Sea power in the 
     broad sense . . . includes not only the military strength 
     afloat, that rules the seas or any part of it by force of 
     arms, but also the peaceful commerce and shipping from which 
     a military fleet naturally and healthfully springs, and on 
     which it securely rests.'' . . .
       Our strategy requires us to be able to project power 
     quickly and effectively across the oceans to deal with the 
     crisis we couldn't avoid or protect. Sealift will be critical 
     to fulfilling this strategic requirement. We learned a lot of 
     valuable lessons from our lift operations in support of 
     Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Many of these were incorporated 
     into our new Mobility Requirements Plan--a blueprint for what 
     we believe is needed to fulfill our armed forces' lift 
     requirements in support of our new strategy. . . The plan 
     also acknowledges that the merchant marine and our maritime 
     industry will be vital to our national security for many 
     years to come. . .
       The key to investment, the one that really matters, is our 
     investment in quality people. . . Few occupations require the 
     high standards U.S. seamen must meet and the demonstrated 
     skills they must acquire to pursue their career. It is your 
     skills and those of your buddies in the Armed Forces that 
     will help America maintain its position of leadership in the 
     world.
       I am here to tell you that we still need you. Do not let 
     anyone suggest to you otherwise.

  Mr. Speaker, General Powell was right when he said that America needs 
a strong merchant marine fleet to maintain our position as a world 
leader on the oceans. I urge every Member of this House to work toward 
strengthening our merchant marine fleet.


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