Page 21: of Marine News Magazine (September 2020)

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Washington Watch

By Jeff Vogel same protections and relief given to other industries dur- for the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel Program, ing COVID-19, and will close a huge gap in current fed- and $300 million for Port Infrastructure Development eral emergency assistance that has left links in the maritime grants. Congress is clearly willing to fund maritime support supply chain isolated and unable to access other assistance programs, it is simply a matter of whether they are willing programs available to other industries.” to extend that funding to all parts of the industry impacted

MTSERA, if enacted, would create a new program by by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the offshore sector.

which the Maritime Administration (MARAD) could issue grants to State entities or U.S. companies engaged in “ves- The state of offshore lifting operations sel construction, transportation by water, or support activi- In addition to MTSERA, the House-passed NDAA in- ties for transportation by water.” The grant funding could cluded the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authoriza- be used for the costs of capital projects to protect, repair, tion Act of 2020, which would reauthorize the U.S. Coast reconstruct, or replace equipment and facilities of the U.S. Guard and Federal Maritime Commission. According to maritime transportation system that MARAD determines Chairman DeFazio, the bill would “strengthen the Coast is in danger of suffering serious damage, or has suffered Guard by enhancing navigation and maritime safety, in- serious damage, as a result of an emergency. In addition, creasing funding to address a $1.8 billion backlog in shore the funding could be used to cover one year (with the op- infrastructure and deferred maintenance, authorizing new portunity for an additional year) of operating costs of U.S. family leave and child care policies and increasing gender maritime companies affected by an emergency, including and racial diversity in the Coast Guard Academy and with- costs related to emergency response, cleaning, sanitization, in the ranks.” janitorial services, staf