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American maritime as well as supply chain profession organizations as well as companies recently corresponded to Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin as well as Congressional leaders requesting assistance in handling the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.
One letter, authorized by an especially wide sector union requests $3.5 billion in help to the sector. A different letter, sent out to Senate board leaders by a smaller sized team, asks that sector employees be focused on for COVID-19 inoculations.
$ 3.5 BILLION HELP APPEAL
Virtually the same letters sent out to Mnuchin as well as House as well as Senate bulk as well as minority leaders on December 9 by no less than 23 companies keeps in mind that the COVID-19 situation has actually seen complete waterborne profession quantity down 6.3% contrasted to in 2015, while the worth of this profession has actually collapsed by 13.9% completing $200 billion. “Passenger movements remain virtually ceased,” claims the letter, including that “expenses have greatly increased due to COVID-19 protocols and precautions that we have implemented nationwide.”
“To date, no dedicated funding has been provided in any of the COVID-19 legislation to assist the maritime transportation system, despite emergency relief being provided to other modes of transportation,” the letter claims.
“As you consider additional actions to respond to the ongoing pandemic, we urge you to provide $3.5 billion for the maritime transportation sector,” claims the letter. “Should the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2021 be enacted in advance of further COVID-19 relief, Congress could direct these funds through the Maritime Transportation System Emergency Relief Program which would authorize the Maritime Administration to provide grants to help defray business-critical expenses that we have incurred due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
The companies validating that letter are: American Association of Port Authorities, American Great Lakes Ports, Association American Waterways Operators, California Association of Port Authorities, Dredging Contractors of America, Gulf Ports Association, Florida Ports Council, International Longshore as well as Warehouse Union, International Longshoremen’s Association, International Propeller Club of the United States, Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO, National Association ofWaterfront Employers Navy League of the United States, Oregon Public Ports Association (OPPA),Pacific Northwest Waterways Association Passenger Vessel Association, Ports Association ofLouisiana Transportation Trades Department AFL-CIO, UNITED STATES Maritime, Waterways Council Inc.,Washington Public Ports Association as well as World Trade Center of New Orleans.
INOCULATION TOP PRIORITY
A rather narrower union that consists of railway as well as trucking passions sent out a letter, likewise dated December 9, to the Chairmen as well as Ranking Members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & & Transportation as well as Subcommittee & onTransportation & Safety.
That letter requests “timely access to the COVID-19 vaccine to minimize the potential for supply chain disruptions, delays in vaccine distribution, and further adverse economic impacts, locally, regionally, and nationally.”
The letter keeps in mind that“earlier this month, the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met concerning the phased allocation of COVID-19 vaccines. The Advisory Committee recognized the importance of essential critical infrastructure workers, such as employees, contractors, and suppliers in our industries, and proposed that they be included in a “Phase 1b” vaccination series– after clinical as well as health care workers as well as employees as well as homeowners in lasting treatment centers determined for “Phase 1a.”
The letter requests assistance for this forecasted allowance of COVID-19 injections.
The companies authorizing off are: American Association of Port Authorities, American Short Line & & Regional Railroad Association, Association of American Railroads, American Trucking Associations &, American Waterways Operators, Inland Rivers Ports & Terminals, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, National Association ofWaterfront Employers, National Maritime Safety Association, National Tank Truck Carriers,Truckload Carriers Association