Maritime interests blast food aid proposal
April 10, 2013 | 12:54 PM
USA Maritime, a coalition of ship-owning companies, maritime labor organizations and maritime trade associations engaged in a public-private partnership with the U.S. Merchant Marine, said it opposes the proposal because it “effectively ends the PL-480 Food for Peace program.”
James Henry
“USA Maritime is severely disappointed that the Obama administration has moved forward with this misguided proposal to effectively eliminate the long-standing and successful Food for Peace program,” said USA Maritime Chairman James Henry in a statement.
“Despite recent letters from Congress to the White House that demonstrate strong, bipartisan support for this program, the administration is still advocating an unnecessary and harmful change to our flagship international aid program. We continue to view this proposal as shortsighted and seriously damaging to both national security and merchant mariner jobs.”
“Since 1954, Food for Peace alone has benefited more than 3 billion people in 150 countries and is an important symbol of America’s goodwill," Henry added.
“Unlike other foreign aid programs, this time-tested program does more than just send aid overseas. Food for Peace is a point of pride for the 44,000 American farmers, shippers, processors, longshoremen, and merchant mariners whose jobs depend upon the program. Food for Peace leverages private and public resources to make a meaningful difference for millions of people in a way that Government cash handouts simply cannot.”
“Food for Peace is not only one of our premiere diplomatic tools, but it is also an important component of our national security,” he continued.
“By ensuring a steady flow of American cargo shipped by Americans on U.S.-flag ships, PL-480 helps maintain our Merchant Marine, which is critical for our ability to support our troops and first responders in time of war or national emergency,” Henry’s statement said.
“In fact, American mariners on commercial U.S.-flag vessels delivered more than 90 percent of defense cargo to military posts in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to the Department of Defense, without the base of food aid cargoes to help sustain the commercial U.S.-flag fleet, we will not be able to sustain the national defense sealift capability our military needs without significant additional federal expenditures.”
“The administration’s proposals to shift funding to a system of global food stamp- vouchers, or to shift to purchases of food aid from allegedly cheaper foreign suppliers instead of donating wholesome commodities grown by American farmers will be harmful to our U.S. Merchant Marine, harmful to our national defense sealift capability, harmful to our farmers and millers, and bad for our economy,” Henry said.
“USA Maritime strongly encourages Congress to reject the administration’s misguided proposal, maintain the current program and sustain PL-480 Food for Peace funding. Doing so will ensure that this program continues to focus on the reliable export of safe and nutritious U.S.-grown commodities to those in need overseas.”
USA Maritime also released letters that the group has sent to Congress.
U.S. Maritime Letter to House Appropriations Committee
U.S. Maritime Letter to Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee
“USA Maritime is severely disappointed that the Obama administration has moved forward with this misguided proposal to effectively eliminate the long-standing and successful Food for Peace program,” said USA Maritime Chairman James Henry in a statement.
“Despite recent letters from Congress to the White House that demonstrate strong, bipartisan support for this program, the administration is still advocating an unnecessary and harmful change to our flagship international aid program. We continue to view this proposal as shortsighted and seriously damaging to both national security and merchant mariner jobs.”
“Since 1954, Food for Peace alone has benefited more than 3 billion people in 150 countries and is an important symbol of America’s goodwill," Henry added.
“Unlike other foreign aid programs, this time-tested program does more than just send aid overseas. Food for Peace is a point of pride for the 44,000 American farmers, shippers, processors, longshoremen, and merchant mariners whose jobs depend upon the program. Food for Peace leverages private and public resources to make a meaningful difference for millions of people in a way that Government cash handouts simply cannot.”
“Food for Peace is not only one of our premiere diplomatic tools, but it is also an important component of our national security,” he continued.
“By ensuring a steady flow of American cargo shipped by Americans on U.S.-flag ships, PL-480 helps maintain our Merchant Marine, which is critical for our ability to support our troops and first responders in time of war or national emergency,” Henry’s statement said.
“In fact, American mariners on commercial U.S.-flag vessels delivered more than 90 percent of defense cargo to military posts in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to the Department of Defense, without the base of food aid cargoes to help sustain the commercial U.S.-flag fleet, we will not be able to sustain the national defense sealift capability our military needs without significant additional federal expenditures.”
“The administration’s proposals to shift funding to a system of global food stamp- vouchers, or to shift to purchases of food aid from allegedly cheaper foreign suppliers instead of donating wholesome commodities grown by American farmers will be harmful to our U.S. Merchant Marine, harmful to our national defense sealift capability, harmful to our farmers and millers, and bad for our economy,” Henry said.
“USA Maritime strongly encourages Congress to reject the administration’s misguided proposal, maintain the current program and sustain PL-480 Food for Peace funding. Doing so will ensure that this program continues to focus on the reliable export of safe and nutritious U.S.-grown commodities to those in need overseas.”
USA Maritime also released letters that the group has sent to Congress.
U.S. Maritime Letter to House Appropriations Committee
U.S. Maritime Letter to Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee
