[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 23, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E458]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS E. PETRI

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 23, 2010

  Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership 
standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information 
regarding a provision classified as an earmark in H.R. 3619, the Coast 
Guard Authorization Act of 2010, which passed the House on October 23, 
2009.
  Requesting Member: The Honorable Thomas E. Petri
  Bill Number: H.R. 3619
  Account: No funding, legislative provision in the Coast Guard 
Authorization Act
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: VCNA Prairie Illinois Inc.
  Address of Requesting Entity: 7601 W. 79th Street, Bridgeview, IL 
60455
  Description of Request: The legislative provision in the Coast Guard 
authorization bill would restore Coastwise Trading privileges to the 
barge St. Marys Cement. From the time of construction in 1986 to 2000, 
St. Marys Cement was registered under the U.S. flag with Coastwise 
Trading privileges. In 2000, the St. Marys Cement relinquished 
Coastwise Trading privileges upon being reflagged under the Canadian 
flag. Operations have since changed and, in order to maximize 
efficiency of its U.S. operations, St. Marys Cement proposes to operate 
the barge directly between U.S. ports (including several in Wisconsin). 
On September 9, 2009, St. Marys Cement received a Certificate of 
Documentation, reestablishing the vessel as an American flagged vessel. 
Since the vessel was once registered outside the U.S., the only way for 
St. Marys Cement to return to operating directly between U.S. ports is 
to restore its Coastwise Trading privileges legislatively. Allowing the 
barge to do so would add American maritime jobs and provide Great 
Lakes-based manufacturing plants additional business opportunities. The 
cost of transporting raw materials to U.S. manufacturing facilities in 
Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin would be reduced. This was a joint 
request with Representative Bart Stupak and Representative Steve Kagen, 
M.D.

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