Rod Grams: “I rise to discuss some of the concerns I have about the Maritime Security Act, H.R. 1350, pending before the Senate…”

“I rise to discuss some of the concerns I have about the Maritime Security Act, H.R. 1350, pending before the Senate today. On March 6, 1996, I joined several of my colleagues in a letter to Commerce Committee Chairman Pressler requesting that additional hearings be held on this bill. While there had been one hearing, groups opposing this legislation did not testify. Since many groups vigorously oppose H.R. 1350, such as Citizens Against Government Waste, National Taxpayers Union, Citizens for a Sound Economy, Heritage Foundation, Competitive Enterprise Institute, CATO, and National Grain and Feed Association, we believe a hearing should be held to fully air these concerns. That hearing did not occur. Nor did a markup of the Senate companion bill occur. We are today taking a controversial House bill from the desk that has not gone through the Senate process. The bill was rushed through the House in a similar manner and passed by a voice vote. I understand, however, that there are now many House Members who believe they did not have a good understanding of the bill at the time of the vote and would now have preferred a more thorough consideration. Mr. President, maritime subsidies have long been on priority lists for termination by many deficit hawks. They were heralded by Republicans early in the 104th Congress as a prime example of corporate welfare that must be terminated.”