Role and Purpose

This office manages MARAD’s congressional liaison and public affairs programs.

Major Activities

The Director of the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs works directly for the Maritime Administrator.

The Director coordinates congressional and intergovernmental relations activities exclusively through the Department’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Governmental Affairs and represents MARAD before various organizations, groups, and individuals.

The Director also oversees the Agency's public affairs program, which:

Clears and issues information to the general public to promote the U.S. merchant marine and shipbuilding industries;

Obtains feedback from the maritime industry, maritime labor, other Government officials, educational institutions, the media and the general public, to determine their information requirements and develops methods to satisfy them;

Coordinates with the media for all interviews and public releases of information from MARAD headquarters, and advises and guides the regional and field offices and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy on the rules for release of information;

Prepares exhibits, audio-visual and printed materials (including MARAD's Annual Report to Congress) and speeches on the subject of the maritime industry for ceremonies and public events; and

Serves as the content manager for MARAD's web site.

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