Posted on October 11, 2024
Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-08), the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, joined Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro in addressing senior military leaders, industry experts, and international allies during the San Francisco Fleet Week Senior Leaders Seminar aboard the USS Tripoli.
In his remarks titled “Reimagining the American Maritime Industry,” Garamendi emphasized workforce development, shipbuilding modernization, infrastructure investment, and the vital role that the Bay Area plays in strengthening the U.S. maritime industry. He also praised Secretary Del Toro’s focus on a whole-of-government approach to enhancing U.S. maritime capabilities. Garamendi outlined his “Congressional Guidance for a National Maritime Strategy,” co-led with Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Representative Waltz (R-FL-06), and discussed ongoing legislative efforts to bolster America’s maritime industries.
“Reinvigorating the American maritime sector is not just a military imperative but an economic one. We must prioritize strategic investments that will drive innovation and keep our industry competitive on the global stage. The future of American shipbuilding and repair lies not only in technology but in the people who bring that technology to life,” said Garamendi.
He also highlighted the Bay Area’s maritime legacy and its potential to lead the nation in green shipbuilding and port modernization. Citing Mare Island—the first U.S. Navy base on the West Coast—as an example, Garamendi highlighted how revitalizing legacy sites like Mare Island Shipyard with modern infrastructure and workforce development, position the San Francisco Bay Area as a cornerstone for revitalizing U.S. maritime strength.
Garamendi stressed the importance of preparing the next generation of maritime workers, underscoring the need for strategic federal investments that will create high-paying jobs, strengthen local communities, and bolster national defense.
Garamendi has been a longtime advocate of reinvigorating the American maritime industry. Garamendi has led bipartisan efforts throughout his career to pass legislation supporting U.S. shipbuilding, maintaining a robust Ready Reserve Fleet, and enhancing ship repair capacity nationwide.
He has supported key provisions in Congress, including:
- 2023 Federal Ship Financing Improvement Act:
- This legislation aims to provide new federal loans and loan guarantees for repairs and retrofits of U.S.-flagged civilian vessels in domestic shipyards, like Mare Island Dry Dock.
- Maritime Administration (MARAD) Funding Initiatives:
- Garamendi has advocated for increased funding for MARAD programs that support shipbuilding and repair, including Title XI loan guarantees. In 2021, Garamendi secured a provision in federal law designating the California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime) as national center of excellence for domestic maritime workforce training and education, ensuring closer cooperation and sharing of resources with the Maritime Administration (MARAD).
- Sustained Funding for the National Defense Reserve Fleet:
- In 2024, Garamendi secured funds to support the National Defense Reserve Fleet and the Maritime Security Program, U.S.-flagged commercial vessels used to transport military personnel, cargo, fuel, and equipment for the U.S. military in the National Defense Authorization Act.
- National Maritime Strategy:
- Garamendi co-led the “Congressional Guidance for a National Maritime Strategy” with Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Representative Waltz (R-FL-06).
- Support for the Jones Act:
- Garamendi has worked to ensure that domestic maritime commerce is conducted by U.S.-flagged vessels, preserving jobs in the American maritime industry. He reintroduced the “Close Agency Loopholes to the Jones Act,” which would close nearly 50 years of loopholes that disadvantage American workers—known as “letter rulings”—by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Specifically, these loopholes allow federal regulators to circumvent the Jones Act—a federal maritime law that requires transportation and items shipped between U.S. ports to be conducted on ships that are built and operated by American citizens or permanent residents.
- Maritime Workforce Development Programs:
- In 2022, Garamendi announced a $13 million investment at Mare Island Dry Dock that would double its workforce and help the shipyard prepare to conduct ship repairs for the United States Navy and Coast Guard. In 2023, Garamendi secured $1 million for job training programs at a new Career Technical Education Centers in Contra Costa County. This will help young people throughout the Bay Area receive the highest possible industry-standard certifications to help them earn high-wage jobs in the skilled trades.
- Environmental Standards for the Maritime Industry:
- In the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, Garamendi secured a provision that will minimize runoff of untreated water and designate a DoD official responsible for coordinating regional stormwater management among military departments.
- Garamendi secured funding for portable battery-electric generators, like those manufactured in Richmond, to ensure that installations can continue operations in the event of a blackout or Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). This builds on Garamendi’s efforts to ensure that the military supports a transition to a clean energy economy.
- Public-Private Partnerships for Infrastructure:
- Garamendi has encouraged the use of public-private partnerships (PPPs) to finance port and maritime infrastructure projects, reducing the financial burden on public entities.
- Maritime Research and Development Initiatives:
- Garamendi authorized more than $58 million for state maritime academies like California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime) in Vallejo. Once enacted into law, this new federal funding will support scholarships for low-income students, funding for shoreside infrastructure, and funding for fuel and maintenance expenses.
