Review of Fiscal Year 2022 Budget for the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Programs
House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
July 21st, 2021 at 11 AM ET
Witnesses:
- Admiral Karl P. Schultz
Commandant
U.S. Coast Guard - Honorable Daniel B. Maffei
Chairman
Federal Maritime Commission - Master Chief Jason M. Vanderhaden
Master Chief Petty Officer Of The Coast Guard
U.S. Coast Guard - Ms. Lucinda Lessley
Acting Administrator
Maritime Administration
On Wednesday, July 21, at 11 AM ET, the U.S. House Committee on Transportation & Infrastucture Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing to examine President Biden’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 budget requests for the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the Maritime Administration (MARAD), and the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC).
The USCG mission is to “to ensure our Nation’s maritime safety, security and stewardship.” The USCG, “America’s maritime first responder” currently has over 56,000 Active Duty, Reserve, and Civilian Personnel, with the support of 25,000 Auxiliary volunteers. The USCG Budget requests $13.1 billion for FY22, of which $9.02 billion is for Operations and Support (O&S) and $1.64 billion for Procurement, Construction and Improvements (PC&I), which supports:
- “Mission Ready Total Workforce” through funding of recruitment and retention, military pay and allowances, as well as civilian pay and benefits.
- Improvements of the C5I – command, control, communications, computers, combat systems and interoperability – in order to allow the Service to sustain and improve their readiness.
- Operational capability and infrastructure improvements to continue answering “the call and deliver(ing) mission excellence” when faced with new, dynamic threats.
Master Chief Vanderhaden ensured to note the importance of funding the USCG in order to allow the workforce to be Semper Paratus – Always Ready – to defend Maritime security, which is national security.
MARAD’s mission is to “foster, promote, and develop a resilient United States merchant marine and maritime transportation industry.” The President’s FY 2022 Budget requests a total of $1.2 billion for MARAD to support:
- MARAD’s ongoing work to “mitigate climate change, strengthen environmental justice, promote transportation equity and inclusion, and support improvements in safety and security in the maritime domain, including across the U.S.-flagged fleet and in American ports.”
- The Tanker Security Program (TSP), which provides stipend payments for up to 10 tanker vessels, supports economic security, and creates/sustains maritime jobs.
- The Marine Highway Program, which supposed the use, development, and expansion of “America’s navigable waterways and landside infrastructure to enable the movement of freight by water” to reduce highway congestion and its impact on our environment.
Funds were noted as crucial by Ms. Lesley in order to allow for the maritime industry to adapt and recover from the ongoing demands and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FMC is seeking an annual budget of 30.87 million to “ensure a competitive and reliable international ocean transportation system that supports the U.S. economy and protects the public from unfair and deceptive practices.” The FY22 FMC budget supports:
- The salaries and benefits of 128 full time employees with advanced degrees and/or “specialized expertise to facilitate implementation of all the provisions of the Shipping Act.”
- Leasing and security in order to stay to allow for the FMC to stay in their current Washington, D.C. location
- Technology, which is crucial in order to allow the workforce to fulfill their job duties, at home or in the office.
Responsible stewardship of the public funds appropriated to the Commission is a priority shared by Chairman Maffei, his colleagues, and the senior career staff of the agency.
For a recording of the full committee hearing, please visit the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure.