SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF N.A. - AGLIW

Legislation: H.R. 1 - One Big Beautiful Bill - Discussions with staff regarding shipbuilding provisions and tax provisions in the bill. H.R. 665 / No Senate Companion - Noncontiguous Shipping Competition Act - Advocacy in opposition to the legislation. H.R. 666 / No Senate Companion - Noncontiguous Shipping Reasonable Rate Act - Advocacy in opposition to the legislation. H.R. 667 / No Senate Companion - Noncontiguous Shipping Relief Act - Advocacy in opposition to the legislation. H.R. 4275 / S. 524 - Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 - Discussions with staff regarding provisions in the bill, advocacy in support of the legislation. H.R. 1207 / S. 525 - To transfer the functions, duties, responsibilities, assets, liabilities, orders, determinations, rules, regulations, permits, grants, loans, contracts, agreements, certificates, licenses, and privileges of the United States Agency for International Development relating to implementing and administering the Food for Peace Act to the Department of Agriculture - Advocacy in support of the legislation. H.R. 1968 / No Senate Companion - Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 - Discussions with staff regarding inclusion of full funding for the Maritime Security, Tanker Security and Cable Ship Security Programs within the legislation. H.R. 2035 / No Senate Companion - American Cargo for American Ships Act - Discussions with staff regarding cargo preference laws. Advocacy in support of the legislation. H.R. 2125 / No Senate Companion - SOS Act of 2025 - Discussions with staff regarding the provisions of the bill, advocacy in support of the legislation. H.R. 2390 / No Senate Companion - Maritime Supply Chain Security Act - Discussions with staff regarding the legislation, advocacy in support of the legislation. H.R. 3151 / S. 1541 / S. 1536 - Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act (SHIPS for America Act) - On-going discussions with staff regarding the reintroduction of the SHIPS for America Act, concerns regarding various provisions, and overall support and advocacy for the legislation. H.R. 3331 / No Senate Companion - Mariner Exam Modernization Act - Discussions with staff regarding testing provisions. Advocacy in support of the legislation. HOUSE DRAFT / SENATE DRAFT - Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act - Advocacy in support of full funding of the Maritime, Tanker, and Cable Ship Security Programs. HOUSE DRAFT / SENATE DRAFT - Agriculture Appropriations Act - Discussions with staff about provision to move USAID foreign aid food programs to the USDA. Advocacy in support of the conclusion of this language in the bill. HOUSE DRAFT / SENATE DRAFT - Maritime Administration Authorization Act - Discussions with staff regarding potential provisions to be included in a forthcoming MARAD authorization. Legislative Initiatives and General Issue Areas: Cargo Preference - Ongoing discussions in regard to increasing the percentages of cargo reserved under cargo preference programs to the U.S.-Flag fleet, education regarding cargo preference and its importance to the industry, and American economic and national security Cable Ship / Maritime Security / Tanker Fleet Security Program funding and issues - On-going discussions with staff over these stipend programs and their future needs, funding, and reauthorizations, as well as concerns regarding the current gap between authorized levels and appropriated funds under the continuing resolution. Coast Guard Credentialing Issues - Ongoing discussions with members and staff regarding difficulties in obtaining initial and renewed credentials for Merchant Mariners through the Coast Guards National Maritime Center. Coast Guard Training Certification Issues - Ongoing discussions with members and staff regarding difficulties in obtaining timely certification of training courses for Merchant Mariners through the Coast Guards National Maritime Center. Coast Guard Able Seafarer Training Program Issues - On-going discussions with members and staff over potential legislative changes to help bring existing, decades-long training programs into compliance with new Coast Guard interpretations of existing statutes and regulations regarding the sea service training time requirements for Able -Bodied Seamen serving in the deck department on vessels in the United States Merchant Marine. Executive Order on Shipbuilding - Discussions with Congressional and White House staff on the President's Executive Order on shipbuilding. Farm Bill - Discussions with staff and meetings regarding maritime priorities in the Farm Bill, work with AFL-CIO Farm Bill union coalition Jones Act - On-going discussions with staff regarding issues relating to the Jones Act, including wind-farm development, and Administration actions on waivers, Customs and Border Protection administrative rulings regarding Jones Act application to OCSLA, staff briefings on the importance of the law and implementation of last year's NDAA provisions. Mariner Recruitment and Retention - Discussions with staff regarding concerns about mariner recruitment, the current mariner shortage, and retention efforts within the industry USAID/Food for Peace Funding Freeze - Discussions with staff regarding the impacts of USAID changes by the Administration and the various programs impacted, including the PL 480 Title II Food for Peace program USAID/USDA Program Transfer - Discussions with offices regarding the movement of program responsibilities for foreign aid from USAID to USDA. USTR Sec. 301 Investigation on Chinese Maritime Practices - Discussions with staff regarding the findings of USTR and their preliminary report and recommendations.