Copyright 2001 Journal of Commerce, Inc. Journal of
Commerce - JoC Online
February 28, 2001
SECTION: OCEAN TRANSPORTATION and PORTS/INTERMODAL; Pg.WP
LENGTH: 300 words
HEADLINE: Graykowski: Don't ax Marad
BYLINE: BY R.G. EDMONSON - JOC ONLINE
BODY: John Graykowski, the former deputy and acting
head of the Maritime Administration said Wednesday that the White House should
think carefully before it proposes dismantling the agency.The Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) on Wednesday proposed shifting administration of the
Maritime Security Program from Marad to the Defense
Department, and doing away with the Title XI loan program which provides
low-interest loans for ship construction.
Graykowski
said the two programs were the largest that the agency administered. He said
that as a civilian agency, Marad is better equipped to administer the than the
Defense Department.
"It's a program that's predicated
on partnership with industry," he said. Title XI is "not 'corporate welfare.
It's done everything it's supposed to do, and it's made money for the
government.
"I'm sorry we have to go through this time
and time again," he said.
Graykowski noted that the
current budget proposal is like one that the Clinton administration offered in
1993. That time it was quickly withdrawn after strong protests from industry,
labor and Congress.
"This time there's a different
dynamic," he said. "We have a Republican administration that is not as sensitive
to organized labor."
On the other hand, the maritime
industry also has friends in the administration. Graykowski said that White
House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, transportation secretary for President George
H. W. Bush, was a strong friend of the maritime industry.
"The industry also has tremendous support in Congress," he said.
Graykowski said that Marad does things "no one else in
government does to support the maritime industry - every day.
"This sets the state for a real discussion about maritime policy," he
continued. "Let's do it before we dismantle it."
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