The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation advanced last week the Maritime Administration (MARAD) Authorization and Enhancement Act, which authorizes appropriations for MARAD for fiscal year 2020.
“The Maritime Administration is critical to a strong economy in the United States,” Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) said. “This bill would reauthorize MARAD while strengthening programs vital to its mission. I appreciate Senator [Maria] Cantwell’s help on this important issue. The language in this bill includes amendments offered by committee Republicans and Democrats and is an important step in maintaining the continued viability of the maritime industry and our nation’s security.”
The act authorizes increased funding for the Small Shipyard Grant program, reauthorizes for 10 years the Maritime Security Program, authorizes grants for port and intermodal infrastructure projects and authorizes a program to support infrastructure development at Department of Defense-designated Strategic Ports.
The act also enacts reforms to support the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, codifies the Trump administration’s Military to Mariner Executive Order into law and includes the Maritime SAFE Act to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
The committee also advanced four other bills: three addressing broadband and radio and one supporting STEM education research focused on early childhood.