Political Quotes

“I strongly agree with Senator Wicker. Despite the clear benefits the MSP program provides, the MSP commercial fleet is under extreme economic pressure from reductions in government-impelled cargoes and foreign competitive factors. I completely share the concerns expressed by the then-TransCom commander, GEN Paul Selva, in his March 2015 testimony before the Armed Services Committee, where he stated that the ``reduction in government impelled cargoes due to the drawdown in Afghanistan and reductions in food aid . . .are driving vessel owners to reflag to non-U.S.-flag out of economic necessity . . .With the recent vessel reductions, the mariner base is at the point where future reductions in U.S.-flag capacity puts our ability to fully activate, deploy and sustain forces at increased risk.'' Accordingly, to ensure that this essential U.S. commercial sealift capability provided by the MSP program remains available to meet America's national security requirements, the MSP program needs to be fully funded as authorized by the Congress.”