The attached letters were generated by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) and supported by a wide range of maritime stakeholders.
The letters were delivered yesterday to President Biden and the leadership of the U.S. Senate, the request is to provide emergency COVID-19 pandemic relief to the nation’s maritime transportation system (MTS) .
As reproduced from the attached letters:
“As Congress continues the process of developing the next COVID-19 relief package, it is critical that this package include emergency relief for our Nation’s maritime transportation system. In the year since
the virus was first detected in the United States the maritime industry has endured significant hardships and has experienced substantial impacts to business. Congress must take immediate steps to ensure that
the whole of the maritime transportation system has the resources necessary to address the unique and unexpected challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the process continues in developing the next COVID-19 relief package, it is critical that this package include emergency relief for our Nation’s maritime transportation system. In the year since the virus
was first detected in the United States the maritime industry has endured significant hardships and has experienced substantial impacts to business. Immediate steps must be taken to ensure that the whole
of the maritime transportation system has the resources necessary to address the unique and unexpected challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
We urge you to include emergency relief for the maritime industry in the next COVID-19 package through the Maritime Transportation System Emergency Relief Program, which was created by the
National Defense Authorization Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-283). This new program, the only one of its kind, authorizes the Maritime Administration to solicit applications for aid from those across the
maritime industry, both inland and coastal, and provide grants to those most in need due to emergencies or disasters. This includes aid to help mitigate the impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
(Emphasis applied)
Please review the attached letters for complete details and the listing of maritime entities that supported this relief effort.
The Big River Coalition applauds the AAPA for taking the leadership role to request the desperately needed support for the MTS.
