On Monday, U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA03) introduced the bipartisan “Rebuilding the United States-Flag International Fleet Act ‘’ (H.R. 9102) with Representatives Bob Gibbs (R-OH07) and Alan S. Lowenthal (D-CA47), which would strengthen federal cargo preference laws to reverse the continued decline of U.S.-flagged commercial vessels delivering cargo to foreign ports. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the number of ocean-going U.S.-flagged vessels have declined by more than 75 percent since 1985.
“My comprehensive, bipartisan legislation would help to recapitalize the U.S.-flag fleet of ocean-going, commercial vessels by guaranteeing government cargo during peacetime so that U.S.-flag vessels are available during wartime or emergencies,” Garamendi said in a statement. ■