A new bill introduced by Congressman John Garamendi, D-Solano, aims to strengthen the U.S. maritime industry.

Wednesday, Garamendi, a ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure’s Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, introduced H.R. 5270, the Growing American Shipping Act. The Subcommittee’s Chairman, Congressman Duncan Hunter, R-Escondido, joined the legislation as an original cosponsor.

Existing law, written before the natural gas boom when America thought it would be a liquefied natural gas (LNG) importer, authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement a program to promote the transportation of imported LNG on U.S. flag vessels. Under the Deepwater Ports Act, the Secretary is also required to give top priority to the processing of licenses for LNG import facilities that will utilize U.S. flag vessels.

This bill would modernize these laws, ensuring that the commitment to U.S. maritime is maintained as it considers export opportunities, Garamendi said. It would:

• Authorize the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement a program to promote the export of LNG on U.S. flag vessels, and

• Require the Secretary to give priority processing of export applications for deepwater port terminals that would utilize U.S. flag vessels.

“In order for businesses to grow, they must identify new opportunities and seize them,” Garamendi said in a press release. “The export market for LNG, a strategic national asset, is ready to take off. At the same time, our nation’s maritime industry has been declining for years. Our nation must take the bull by the horns. When it is deemed appropriate to export LNG, it should be on American-flagged vessels.”

Hunter agreed.

“A strong U.S. maritime industry is essential to the national economy and global security,” he said. “This legislation will help strengthen this industry by promoting LNG export opportunities on U.S. flag vessels — which is most certainly in the national interest.”