Palm Coast Times

On Tuesday, a bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers sent a letter to President Biden, urging him to prioritize the strengthening of the United States' maritime power. The letter, spearheaded by U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz and Senator Mark Kelly, highlighted the increasing influence of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the South China Sea and the attacks on shipping in the Red Sea by the Houthis.

In the letter, the lawmakers called on President Biden to take several key actions to bolster maritime defense. This includes establishing an interagency maritime policy director, designating maritime infrastructure as "critical infrastructure," invoking the Defense Production Act (DPA) for shipbuilding, and developing a comprehensive strategy to reduce dependency on Chinese maritime infrastructure and industry.

The lawmakers emphasized the urgent need for action, pointing out the deterioration of U.S. maritime infrastructure, including naval and commercial shipyards. They also highlighted the decline of the U.S. flagged international trading fleet and the underinvestment in the Merchant Marine and maritime workforce.

"We stand at an inflection point. We must act now—before it is too late—to reinvigorate American and allied maritime power on the seas," stated the lawmakers in the letter.

The letter was co-signed by a group of 17 bipartisan and bicameral lawmakers, including Senators John Boozman, John Cornyn, Tammy Duckworth, Marco Rubio, and Rick Scott, as well as Representatives James R. Baird, Jack Bergman, Byron Donalds, Neal P. Dunn, and many others.

The lawmakers acknowledged that reviving the shipbuilding and shipping industries would not be an easy task after years of neglect. However, they emphasized the importance of taking immediate action to ensure the United States maintains its strong maritime tradition and reduces dependence on Chinese maritime infrastructure.

The letter concluded by urging President Biden to prioritize maritime defense and to work with Congress to implement the proposed measures. The full text of the letter can be found [here](link to the letter).