North Michigan News

Representative Jack Bergman (R-MI) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers have sent a letter to President Biden, urging him to prioritize and strengthen the United States' maritime defense. The letter comes at a critical moment when the People's Republic of China is extending its influence in the South China Sea and the Houthis are attacking shipping in the Red Sea.

In the letter, the lawmakers highlight the urgent need to address the aging U.S. maritime infrastructure, including naval and commercial shipyards. They emphasize that the decline of the U.S. flagged international trading fleet and the neglect of the Merchant Marine and maritime workforce have contributed to the current state of affairs.

"We have allowed the U.S. flagged international trading fleet to decline precipitously, underinvesting in our Merchant Marine and maritime workforce to man our ships and shipyards," the lawmakers pointed out.

To address these challenges, the bipartisan group called on President Biden to take several key actions. They urged him to establish an interagency maritime policy director to coordinate efforts across government agencies. They also called for the designation of maritime infrastructure as "critical infrastructure" and the invocation of the Defense Production Act for shipbuilding.

Additionally, the lawmakers emphasized the need for a whole-of-government maritime "de-risking" strategy to reduce dependency on Chinese maritime infrastructure and industry. They highlighted the importance of reinvigorating American and allied maritime power on the seas.

"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," the lawmakers stated.

The letter was co-signed by Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), John Boozman (R-AR), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Rick Scott (R-FL), along with Representatives James R. Baird (R-IN), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Neal P. Dunn (R-FL), Brad Finstad (R-MN), C. Scott Franklin (R-FL), John Garamendi (D-CA), Nick LaLota (R-NY), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Richard McCormick (R-GA), James C. Moylan (R-GU), John H. Rutherford (R-FL), and Mike Waltz (R-FL).

The bipartisan nature of the letter signifies the shared concern among lawmakers about the current state of U.S. maritime defense. It is a call to action for President Biden to prioritize and invest in maritime defense capabilities to counter the growing threats in the South China Sea and the Red Sea.

The full text of the letter can be found [here](link to the letter).

The urgency conveyed by Representative Bergman and his colleagues underscores the need for immediate attention and action. Strengthening the U.S. maritime defense is crucial not only for national security but also for maintaining American and allied influence on the seas.