[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 165 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15072-S15073]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NOMINATION OF JOSEPH E. BRENNAN

  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, last Wednesday, the Senate confirmed 
Governor Joseph E. Brennan as a commissioner on the Federal Maritime 
Commission, and this week Governor Brennan was sworn in for a term to 
expire in 2003.
  Governor Brennan, who formerly served as a Member of Congress for 
four years, where he was a member of the House Merchant Marine and 
Fisheries Committee, and Governor of Maine for eight years prior to 
that, is eminently qualified to confront the challenges facing the 
maritime community. With his broad experience at both the state and 
federal level, Governor Brennan is an outstanding choice to serve as a 
Commissioner on the FMC.
  His service in Congress gave him first-hand knowledge of federal 
maritime issues as a member of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries 
Committee that will be invaluable on the Maritime Commission.
  Established in 1961, the Federal Maritime Commission--FMC--is an 
independent regulatory agency charged with administering laws relating 
to shipping and the waterborne domestic and offshore commerce of the 
U.S.
  The FMC's jurisdiction encompasses many facets of the maritime 
industry. The Chairman and four Commissioners of the FMC are 
responsible for protecting shippers, carriers and others engaged in 
foreign commerce from restrictive rules and regulations of foreign 
governments and from the practices of foreign-flag carriers that have 
an adverse effect on shipping in U.S. trades. The FMC also reviews and 
monitors agreements under shipping law, reviews and approves or rejects 
tariff filings, issues licenses for ocean freight activities, 
administers passenger indemnity laws, reviews alleged or suspected 
violations of shipping statutes, and promulgates rules and regulations 
on shipping laws.
  The maritime sector is vitally important to our economy, and the 
FMC's responsibilities are fundamental to sustaining U.S. 
competitiveness in this area.
  As a Senator from Maine, a state with a rich maritime heritage, I am 
keenly aware that our nation has always been dependent upon the sea and 
has thus enjoyed a rich maritime tradition. To this day, our merchant 
marine remains an integral part of our culture and our economy.
  Today, one out of every six jobs in the United States is marine 
related. America's ports support more than 95 percent of all our 
overseas foreign trade, and within the U.S., more than one billion tons 
of commercial cargo is transported by ship each year. We must

[[Page S15073]]

do all that we can to preserve our maritime legacy for future 
generations, and the FMC plays a key role in the commercial component 
of this legacy.
  Mr. President, I would also like to recognize Senator McCain, 
Chairman of the Commerce Committee, for his leadership, and for making 
it possible to move the nominations of both Governor Brennan and 
Anthony Merck prior to adjournment. I am grateful to Senator McCain and 
to Majority Leader Lott for their efforts to move this nomination 
expeditiously--and to my colleagues for their support.
  Finally, I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to 
Governor Brennan. I am very pleased that the President recognized that 
he would make a valuable contribution to the FMC. As senior Senator 
from Maine and a member of the Commerce Committee, I look forward to 
working with Governor Brennan on maritime issues in the years to come.
  Mr. President, once again, I would like to thank Chairman McCain 
Majority Leader Lott, and my colleagues, and I yield the floor.

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