Our Maritime Industry Is Too Important to Ignore
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Organized 1885 Official Organ of the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific Volume LXXX No. 3 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA Friday, March 24, 2017 Our maritime industry is too important to ignore by Congressman John Garamendi (D-California) he United States is the Merchant Marine for over 95% can industry that has eroded world’s commercial of our sealift needs in times with time and bad policy. Tsuperpower. We are of war or national emergency. The domestic energy boom, the largest importer and sec- Imagine a hypothetical scenario combined with recent changes ond-largest exporter of mer- involving heightened tensions to federal law, has led the United chandise. In 2015, American and a military buildup in the States to dramatically increase exports of merchandise abroad South Pacific. its energy exports. Congress re- totaled over $1.5 trillion. Sea- In times of war, our Army cently voted to allow unlimited borne trade represents an enor- and Marine Corps routinely rely exports of American crude oil. Sailors’ Union marks mous share of this activity: In on the U.S. Merchant Marine By 2025, this means we could 2016, over $475 billion worth of and the Ready Reserve Force be exporting up to 3.64 million nd American exports were trans- fleet of 46 ships for sealift and barrels of crude every day, 132 Anniversary ported overseas by ship. transport of vital equipment and which could require up to 380 he Sailors’ Union of the Pa- rights. Under federal law they The average person might support. Would our military tankers and 15,200 mariners. Tcific this month observed the were serfs at the beck and call of nd hear these numbers and as- leaders feel comfortable having Absent congressional action, al- 132 anniversary of its found- the shipowner, the crimp, bucko sume that the United States to rely on vessels flagged abroad most all of these exports will be ing, March 6, 1885, on the masters and mates. Recognition, and its industrial sector are and manned by foreign crews to transported on foreign-flagged old Folsom Street Wharf in San respect and improved conditions deeply committed to main- provide this emergency sea lift tankers, helping other nations Francisco. did not come easy. Men bled and taining fleets of reliable, mod- capacity to transport our mil- grow their maritime industrial In that era, organizing a Union some died for it. ern American ships to carry itary into hostile regions? It’s capabilities from the export of a was a bold move as there were no During World War I and par- important to remember that our strategic U.S. energy resource. laws on the books that addressed cargo. Unfortunately, the ticularly World War II, hundreds trade partners are not always collective maritime industry is a shadow The LNG export boom is of SUP members faced enemy our closest allies. bargaining of its former self. Just after no less striking in its potential. attacks and went down with their World War II, the United Projection of American soft By 2020, the U.S. will be the rights for ships. That legacy continued States had 1,200 ocean-going power is equally dependent third-largest exporter of LNG, w o r k e r s . during the Korea, Vietnam and ships. Even in the 1980s, we on a healthy, privately owned with an average export of 7.4 That would Middle East conflicts. The SUP had several hundred ships fly- Merchant Marine. When di- billion cubic feet a day. Export- not occur today continues to be a vital part ing under a U.S. flag. Today, saster strikes, our Ready Re- ing that much LNG will require u nt i l t h e of America’s “Fourth Arm of that number is less than 80. serve Fleet must stand ready about 100 specialized vessels passage of Defense”. Andrew Furuseth Here’s another shock: In 1955, to answer the call at home and and 5,200 mariners. There are the Nation- With a militant membership al Labor Relations Act in 1935. a quarter of American exports abroad. Unfortunately, this fleet currently no U.S.-flagged LNG and the tenacious leadership of traveled on U.S.-flagged ships. is aging, and without action, the carriers, and unless Congress For sailors, there were no Andrew Furuseth and Harry Today, it is below 1%. time will soon come when our takes specific action, all ex- Lundeberg, tremendous obstacles As the ranking member of reserve fleet no longer has the port capacity will be on for- were overcome and the Sailors’ the Coast Guard and maritime capability to provide the relief eign-flagged ships using foreign Union developed an enduring transportation subcommittee, that both Americans and the crews. lega cy of I am all too familiar with the international community have Requiring even a percentage strength and negative effects of the deterio- come to expect. of these exports to be trans- integrity. ration of the American maritime It’s time for Congress to ported on U.S.-flagged ships In addi- industry. Fewer American ships stop ignoring the problem and will have a cascade of positive tion to the means fewer high-paying jobs make our maritime indus- effects for our economy. The anniversary for American mariners. It means try part of a comprehensive United States is a maritime, of the orga- fewer skilled manufacturing “Make It In America” agen- seafaring nation. It is past time nization of Harry Lundeberg jobs for shipbuilders. And it da. That’s why I’m introduc- for Congress to pay more at- the Union means a striking loss of the ing the Energizing American tention to this vital industry as and the birthdays of former sec- technical know-how required Maritime Act, which would we work on rebuilding Amer- retaries Furuseth (March 5, 1854) to build the advanced ships that require 30% of all American ican infrastructure and as we and Lundeberg (March 25, 1901), international commerce relies exports of crude oil and Liq- contemplate a shifting national March is also the 102nd anniver- on today: know-how that can uefied Natural Gas (LNG) to security environment in an un- Periodicals’ postage paid at San Francisco, CA (USPS 675-180) postage paid at San Francisco, CA Periodicals’ sary of the Seamen’s Act which often be transferred to other be transported on U.S.-flag certain world. was signed into law by President high-value, domestic industries. vessels by the year 2025. This Garamendi is the Ranking Woodrow Wilson on March 4, A robust maritime industry modest carriage requirement Member of the House Transpor- 1915, after a 20-year struggle by is also absolutely vital for our would bolster our national se- tation and Infrastructure Sub- Furuseth to free seamen from national security. The Depart- curity, put Americans to work committee on the Coast Guard indentured servitude. ment of Defense depends on the and recreate a great Ameri- and Maritime Transportation. ESU News: Page 7 Page 2 WEST COAST SAILORS Friday, March 24, 2017 Trading health care for tax cuts SUP Honor Roll So much for President Trump’s pledge of “insurance for everybody.” Voluntary contributions from the membership to the following funds: The Congressional Budget Office (C.B.O.) said on March 13, that next year 14 mil- lion fewer Americans will have insurance if the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, is repealed and replaced on the terms the president is seeking. That tally would rise Organization/ Political Fund to 21 million in 2020 and 24 million in 2026. By then, the total number of uninsured Abe Acosta. 20.00 Americans would reach 52 million. General Fund Brendan Bohannon. 50.00 And for what? To give a gigantic tax cut to wealthy Americans. Anonymous . 10.00 Marc Calairo. 100.00 According to the C.B.O. the loss of health care coverage under the Republican plan Abe Acosta. 20.00 Rocky Casazza . .10.00 stems largely from gutting Medicaid for low-income Americans, even though Mr. Donald Cushing. 75.00 Dave Connolly. 200.00 Trump has said he would not cut Medicaid. Coverage would also be lost in part be- cause insurance would become unaffordable for millions as subsidies are withdrawn, Ricky Pangan . 75.00 Jennifer Corner. 25.00 despite Mr. Trump’s claim that coverage would become “much less expensive and JeanPaul Root. 100.00 Donald Cushing. 100.00 much better.” Joel Schor. 10.00 Art Garrett . 100.00 Older people would be hard hit. The Republican plan repeals the penalty for not Dennis Sumague. 25.00 David Green. 30.00 buying insurance. One predictable result of this change is that premiums will rise as Scott Hudson. .10.00 younger, healthier people refuse to buy insurance. To hold down the cost of average West Coast David Ibarra. 50.00 premiums, the proposal would allow insurers to charge five times more for older Gunnar Lundeberg. 50.00 enrollees than younger ones, rather than three times, as permitted under Obamacare, The outcome would be reduced premiums for young adults, essentially paid for by Sailors Mike O’Boyle. 100.00 charging substantially higher premiums for older people - and higher deductibles and Abe Acosta. 20.00 Joe Obsuna . 10.00 other cost-sharing for everyone. Robin Colonas. 20.00 Ariel Odion. 20.00 At the same time, the plan provides a $600 billion tax cut over 10 years for wealthy Donald Cushing. 25.00 Ricky Pangan . 75.00 Americans, because they would no longer be subject to the taxes that pay for the health Wilton Gustafson . 20.00 Arsenio Purganan. 50.00 care subsidies. When the tax cuts for the rich and the spending cuts to Medicaid are Arthur Kardinal.