[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 178 (Wednesday, December 9, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8558-S8559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 332--COMMEMORATING THE 140TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
                MARINE ENGINEERS' BENEFICIAL ASSOCIATION

  Ms. MIKULSKI submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 332

       Whereas the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (in 
     this preamble referred to as the ``M.E.B.A.'') was founded in 
     1875 and is the oldest maritime union in the United States;
       Whereas, soon after the founding of the M.E.B.A., the 
     M.E.B.A. battled for beneficial legislation to certify, 
     license, and protect waterborne engineers;
       Whereas the M.E.B.A. prevailed in securing deck and engine 
     officers of the United States aboard flagships of the United 
     States, displacing foreign seamen;
       Whereas, since 1875, the M.E.B.A. has been the premier 
     maritime labor union for the officers of the United States 
     Merchant Marine;
       Whereas the members of the M.E.B.A., including thousands of 
     marine engine and deck officers, are unparalleled in maritime 
     training and experience;
       Whereas M.E.B.A. members crew the most technologically 
     advanced ships in the flag fleet of the United States, 
     including container ships, tankers, Great Lakes and liquefied 
     natural gas vessels, and a cruise ship;
       Whereas M.E.B.A. members sail aboard Government-contracted 
     ships of the Military

[[Page S8559]]

     Sealift Command of the United States Navy and the Ready 
     Reserve Force of the Maritime Administration, on tugs and 
     ferry fleets around the United States, and in various 
     capacities in shoreside industries;
       Whereas M.E.B.A. members provide critical support to the 
     United States by carrying cargo to aid the Armed Forces of 
     the United States in overseas conflicts;
       Whereas, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, the commercial, 
     privately-owned fleet, crewed by civilians of the United 
     States, carried more than 85 percent of the materials and 
     equipment needed by the United States and the allies of the 
     United States to achieve victory;
       Whereas, since 1875, M.E.B.A. members have served in every 
     conflict and war in which the United States has been 
     involved, including the Spanish-American War, World Wars I 
     and II, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi 
     Freedom;
       Whereas the M.E.B.A. brings critical food aid to starving 
     people in Ethiopia, Somalia, and dozens of other countries 
     around the world;
       Whereas, as the people of the United States watched the 
     tragedy of September 11, 2001 unfold, members of the M.E.B.A. 
     ferried thousands of people to safety in New York;
       Whereas, during the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and 
     Rita, the tsunami in Southeast Asia, and countless other 
     disasters, the M.E.B.A. was there with the professionalism, 
     pride, and patriotism that has long been the hallmark of 
     mariners of the United States;
       Whereas the M.E.B.A. has its own maritime training center, 
     the Calhoon M.E.B.A. Engineering School in Easton, Maryland, 
     which keeps seafaring members on the cutting edge of the 
     industry; and
       Whereas the Calhoon M.E.B.A. Engineering School was 
     originally located in Baltimore because of the rich maritime 
     tradition in that city but later moved to the Eastern Shore 
     of Maryland when the school needed to expand: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate commemorates the 140th 
     anniversary of the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association.

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