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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.
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