[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 187 (Monday, October 25, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                SUPPORT OF THE U.S. FLAG MARITIME FLEET

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELAINE G. LURIA

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 25, 2021

  Mrs. LURIA. Madam Speaker, today I want to highlight the importance 
of the U.S. flag maritime fleet to our economic and national security. 
While only two percent of our country's imports and exports move on 
U.S. ships, the U.S. shipping industry supports, over 650,000 U.S. 
jobs, has over $150 billion in annual U.S. economic impact, and plays a 
critical role in supporting our military's ability to project power and 
meet wartime requirements.
  Shipping is the most energy efficient way to move cargo, and we 
heavily rely on the U.S. flag fleet for trade security, diplomatic and 
maritime strength, and our readiness to defend and support American 
interests overseas.
  The U.S. has only 84 international deep sea trading vessels, but the 
rest of the world has over 50,000. China alone has nearly 7,000.
  The United States needs a robust U.S. flag maritime industry and a 
trained and qualified mariner workforce to support our surge sealift 
capabilities in responding to crises and military operations around the 
world when called upon. Further, the U.S. flag fleet routinely responds 
to disasters and emergencies, moves critical government and military 
cargo around the world, and carries American farm products in support 
of U.S. international development programs to help developing countries 
in need.
  The shipping industry is facing unprecedented challenges today, but 
one thing we know all too well is that a strong commercial maritime 
capability enhances our national security. The Maritime Security 
Program which has broad bipartisan support in Congress is the single 
most important program to assist U.S. flag ships in foreign trade and 
helps ensure that we retain this important military capacity.
  While the U.S. is the largest trading nation in the world based on 
exports and imports of goods and services, without strong sustained 
support, the U.S. flag fleet faces difficult challenges which have 
significant potential to negatively impact America's national security. 
I want to thank the U.S. flag fleet and the U.S. merchant mariners who 
work every day to support our military and our Nation.

                          ____________________