Speeches by Secretary Elaine L. Chao
Archived Speech — Caution: Information may be out of date.
Remarks Prepared for Delivery by
U.S. Secretary of
Labor Elaine L. Chao
National Maritime Day Observances
Washington,
D.C.
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Thank you for that kind introduction, John [Jamian, Deputy Maritime Administrator].
I am delighted to be here with Secretary Mineta, Captain [Bill] Schubert [Maritime Administrator], Admiral [Carl] Seiberlich, Admiral [David] Brewer and Admiral [Albert] Herberger.
It’s also good to see Jeff Shane, Undersecretary of Transportation Policy, former Congresswoman Helen Bentley, John Gaughan [Vice President of Government Affairs, American Maritime Congress] and Gloria Tosi [President, American Maritime Congress].
It’s also great to see Ed Kelly of the American Maritime Officers, Tim Brown of the Masters, Mates and Pilots Union and Cecil McIntyre, who is here representing the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association.
I know that MEBA President Ron Davis and Mike Sacco of the Seafarers Union would be with us today if they weren’t attending a ship christening in San Diego—a great way to celebrate National Maritime Day.
And it’s good to see David Heindel, representing the Seafarers Union.
The Department of Labor has worked with President Sacco to develop the first-ever National Apprenticeship Standards for the maritime industry. The goal is to increase the number of highly skilled, American seamen. President Sacco is also a member of President George W. Bush’s Commission on the 21st Century Workforce.
In peace and war, the U.S. Merchant Marine supports the twin pillars of America’s strength: economic prosperity and national security.
In peace, they keep America working with the world by transporting our imports and exports. They crew the ships that conduct our worldwide commerce. They are vital to our prosperity.
And in war, they serve alongside our soldiers as an auxiliary of the U.S. Navy. America’s merchant mariners have served in every American war since before the United States was born. Merchant mariners crewed Hannah, the first ship commissioned by the Continental Congress to fight the mighty British Navy.
In World War II, merchant mariners braved submarines, mines, enemy destroyers and aircraft and the unpredictable weather of the North Atlantic Ocean. During that war, America lost more than 5,000 merchant mariners aboard 733 ships sunk by enemy submarines. Only the U.S. Marine Corps had a higher casualty rate. Yet through it all, America’s mariners stood strong, delivering food, fuel and other vital supplies and equipment. U.S. merchant mariners supplied America’s soldiers as they rescued the people of Europe from the monstrous evil that had overtaken their continent.
As we have just seen in that stirring film, that tradition continues today, as America once again rises to liberate another oppressed people.
I visited Iraq earlier this year. Our men and women in uniform, and the civilians who work with them, are very proud of the work they have done. Because of them, Iraq is a free nation today. Saddam Hussein and his brutal regime are no longer in control of Iraq. And as others in the Bush administration have pointed out, the fall of Saddam Hussein would not have happened without the assistance of the U.S. Merchant Marine.
Today, more than 6,000 merchant mariners serve the Military Sealift Command. Most of them are working in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. As they have in every war in our nation’s history, merchant mariners are delivering our troops and the combat gear, fuel and other supplies that they need to complete the liberation and reconstruction of Iraq. All told, merchant mariners have delivered more than 2.6 million short tons of cargo. This is more than 85 percent of the equipment and supplies needed by our brave troops. And true to America’s compassionate character, they are also delivering food and supplies to the Iraqi people.
Their job is not easy. The passage of each ship must be carefully choreographed. This requires exceptional skill and focus, especially during rough sea storms. Certain places are extremely difficult to navigate. The Suez Canal, for example, is very narrow, with little room for maneuvering and none for error. Off-loading must often be done quickly—for the ports are very busy—despite sometimes blinding sandstorms.
Through all these challenges, America’s merchant mariners continue to supply the liberation and reconstruction of Iraq. When the history of this war is written, the U.S. Merchant Marine will be remembered—as it has been in every war—as vital to our victory.
So, today, on National Maritime Day, I am proud to be part of this celebration honoring the brave Merchant Mariners who are sacrificing so much to keep our country free and secure.
# # #
_________________________________________________________________
Archived Speech — Caution: Information may be out of date.
