General Duncan J. McNabb, Commander, United States Transportation Command, May 2011:

"Maintaining U.S. Flag sealift readiness is a top priority for the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM)....USTRANSCOM's partnership with the U.S. commercial sealift industry is a vital component to meeting the Nation's strategic sealift requirements. To date, over 90 percent of all cargo to Afghanistan and Iraq has been moved by sea in U.S. Flag vessels....The movement of U.S. international food aid has been a major contributor to the cargo we have moved under the cargo preference law that our commercial sealift industry depends on. Any reductions will have to be offset in other ways to maintain current DOD sealift readiness."

Major General Kathleen Gainey, Commander, U.S. Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, February 2008:

"The merchant marine has always been there beside us. You have always been there when we needed you, and you have always delivered. It doesn't matter whether it was in harm's way or whether it was in peace. You have always been there. Your partnership has never faltered. Your willingness to be there was never conditional. You have always delivered and been there for our service members around the world. There's no amount of thanks that I could give you, because I am here to tell you, having deployed twice, I know how critical it is that we get that equipment and those supplies on time. You deliver and we know we can count on you ... You are that fourth arm of the Department of Defense and you are critical to this nation."

General Norton A. Schwartz, Commander, United States Transportation Command, April 2008:

"U.S.-flag commercial sealift carriers remain a critical partner in our nation's ability to project and sustain forces by providing the Department of Defense with assured access to commercial U.S.-flag ships as well as U.S. mariners to support national security requirements during war or national emergency."

President George W. Bush, May 2008:

"In times of peace and war, these brave patriots help keep our Nation safe and strengthen our economy. By transporting American goods across the oceans, merchant mariners facilitate commerce and advance trade. These Americans honor the noble traditions of seafarers and enrich our country's maritime heritage."

General Norton A. Schwartz, Commander, United States Transportation Command, May 2008:

“…heritage of service and accomplishment, often under extreme pressure. That is what we honor today. It is an understatement to say we count on you.”

Schwartz said that today’s mariners “are the people who ensure that the promises we’ve made to our service men and women are and always will be promises kept,”… the U.S. Merchant Marine is “the linchpin of our wartime and peacetime sealift capability,” and the “backbone of our ability to project sea power wherever and whenever needed.”

Sean Connaughton, Maritime Administrator, May 2008:

“Marine transportation is the critical link in today’s economy and will be into the future as 95 percent of America’s trade is moved by ship,” ... “This means steadily growing cargo volumes for ships, barges, ports and the labor, shipyards and service industries that support them. With such a large national-international market as this, America and Americans are in a unique position to be strong and robust competitors and to reap the economic benefits from the increased demand for transportation.”…“The U.S. maritime industry should be and must be a major participant in our international trade … Not only for purely economic reasons. We need to have the capacity to move the trade essential to our economy in times of peace and national emergency. To talk about the benefits of the global economy and to ignore the vulnerabilities in the transportation system necessary to make it work is to invite potential disaster.”

General Robert Dail, March 2007:

Dail said that when it comes to sealift, U.S. maritime labor is “absolutely critical to that capability. The work that you have done with the Maritime Security Program, the Jones Act and many of the other national security programs in the maritime industry have given us this capability. We need to continue our commitment between government, labor and industry to underscore this capability, make sure it doesn’t get put on the back burner, and make sure it’s there for us tomorrow.”

General Norton A. Schwartz, Commander, United States Transportation Command, March 2007:

“It’s all about chartering the direct course to deliver military power in the quickest, most efficient, most businesslike manner wherever and whenever the nation calls on us to serve…I’m taking no chances at all by telling you that we’re going to continue to depend on you—all of you—to make that projection of American power possible. The vast majority of how we get things done is through sealift.”

“A good way to get our minds around what this implies is that only about 21 percent of the shipping that we use is owned by the U.S. government,” Schwartz explained. “The other 79 percent is present in U.S. flags in American commerce. I think the ships that you sail aboard clearly represent one of the most cost-effective of expenditures people have figured out how to make in government.”

He pointed to the U.S. Maritime Security Program (MSP) and its related Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) as a prime illustration. If the government were tasked with replicating the vessels and infrastructure now available to the military via the MSP and VISA, it literally would cost tens of billions of dollars, Schwartz stated. Instead, those programs function for a fraction of that cost, and they help ensure the continued existence of a well-trained pool of reliable U.S. mariners along with dozens of privately owned, militarily useful American-flag ships.

“The truth of the matter is that in many ways you can do business much better than we can in government and that’s why the teamwork here is so very important and why a fully funded Maritime Security Program is important to the defense community,” 

Senator Barack Obama, September 2007:

"...Maintaining the American merchant fleet is vital to our economy and national security. I would oppose any move to undermine this (Jones) Act."

Rear Adm. Robert Reilly Jr., Commander, Military Sealift Command, October 2007:

Recalling the heroic efforts of the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II—in particular the Murmansk Run— “If you think about our U.S. Merchant Mariners and you recognize the fact that they have always been there to support us, you will recognize the fact that they still have the courage and the conviction to support this nation in time of defense, no matter what the threat is.”

Vice Admiral David Brewer, Commander, Military Sealift Command, February 2006:

“I’ve come to love this industry,” Brewer said. “We could not have fought this war without this industry. I tell the American people that all the time. The Transportation Command has moved the equivalent of the state of Utah during this war. That’s every man, woman, child, all their household goods, all their vehicles, and enough fuel for them to survive for 1,000 years. That’s what you all have been doing. And that’s what the American people need to hear.”

Finally, Brewer offered perhaps the highest measure of respect that a military officer can extend. He said that when discussing the U.S. military, “I’m not talking about just the Army or the Navy or the Marine Corps or the Air Force or the Coast Guard. I’m also talking about merchant mariners because merchant mariners are the ones who are carrying the freight. This country does not win wars without merchant mariners. They may take you for granted, but they can’t fight without you…. The maritime industry and the sailors who sail on my ships are just as powerful and just as important to the security of this nation as anybody else.”

President George W. Bush, June 2006:

"America is a great maritime power, and our merchant marine has a vital role to play. In times of peace, the merchant marine helps ensure our economic security by keeping the oceans open to trade. In times of war, the merchant marine is the lifeline of our troops overseas, carrying critical supplies, equipment and personnel.”

Vice Adm. David L. Brewer III, USN, Commander, Military Sealift Command (MSC) , March 10, 2004:

The Maritime Security Program is "...extremely important. We can't exist without it...But more importantly, ships don't run themselves. Mariners run them. The Maritime Security Program is providing us with a U.S.-flagged fleet that will provide us with the mariners to man these particular ships."

Gen. John W. Handy, USAF, commander in chief, United States Transportation Command, October 8, 2002:

"The MSP is a vital element of our military's strategic sealift and global response capability. As we look at operations on defense multiple fronts in support of the War on Terrorism, it is clear that our limited defense resources will increasingly rely on partnerships with industry to maintain the needed capability and capacity to meet our most demanding wartime scenarios. That makes MSP reauthorization even more important as we look toward the future. MSP is a cost-effective program that assures guaranteed access to required commercial U.S.-flag shipping and U.S. Merchant Mariners, when needed. The alternative to MSP is, ultimately, reliance on foreign-flag vessels manned by foreign crews during crisis. MSP provides the security of resources we must have in a very uncertain world fraught with asymmetric threats."

Rep. Duncan Hunter, U.S. House of Representatives, April 26, 2001:

"Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Merchant Marine Panel of the House Armed Services Committee, I rise today to address a matter under the jurisdiction of my panel which is of the utmost importance to the national security and maritime capability of the United States, namely the need to reauthorize the Maritime Security Program (MSP)…. Without the MSP program, U.S.-flag vessel owners would have been forced to shift their operations to foreign flags with foreign crews in order to remain internationally competitive. This would have been detrimental to our national security interests…. Without the MSP the cost to DOD would be substantial--approximately $800 million annually would be required by DOD to provide similar sealift and related system capacity on its own for the rapid and sustained deployment of military vehicles, ammunition and other equipment and material."

Gen. Henry Shelton, USA, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, April 5, 2000:

"Let me spend a few minutes on the subject of America's maritime destiny and the vital national importance of a robust merchant marine. In addition to America's commercial interests -- which included the movement of more than 2 billion tons of domestic and foreign commerce through U.S. ports last year -- our military depends on sealift to move 95 percent of the materiel required for a major theater war. In DESERT STORM nearly 9800 merchant mariners and 200 midshipmen served on merchant ships that helped move 95 percent of the cargo required for our operations. Ask any officer from any of the Services who has had the opportunity to serve on a Joint Task Force in the myriad of hot spots around the globe -- just ask any of them if the U.S. merchant marine is important to their operations. You will get not only a 'yes, but a resounding 'yes-and-can-we-have-more!'

Governor George W. Bush, October, 2000:

"In time of war or national emergency, the U.S. military depends on shipping and seafarers drawn from the U.S.-flag commercial fleet to deploy our military overseas and, once deployed, to transport the supplies necessary for them to fight, and win anywhere in the world. . . Programs. . . that guarantee intermodal cargo lift and management services when needed in times of crisis or conflict, such as the Maritime Security Program, should be maintained."

VADM Albert J. Herberger, USN (Ret.), former Maritime Administrator, April 15, 1998:

"Because sealift and airlift are the pivotal elements in the shift of U.S. military posture and strategy, the new MSP and VISA programs are prudent steps that provide insurance against not having the sealift capacity and capability, nor the civilian mariners when needed. Although such insurance is certainly not free, it is a relatively inexpensive way to manage risk in an uncertain environment…. My personal assessment is that the U.S. maritime industry will continue to play a significant role in the nation's economic growth. Both the international and domestic fleets, along with revitalized ports and waterways, will be vital components of our transportation system and indispensable elements of our national security capability…. This great nation must continue to be a 'maritime' power for our own interest. Can anyone imagine the world's only superpower and greatest trading nation without its own maritime industry?"

Gen. John M. Shalikashvili, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, February 21, 1997:

"Today, after two centuries, our merchant marine is every bit as important and every bit as vital to the commerce and defense of our nation as it ever has been. In addition to America's commercial interests…the United States military depends on sealift to move 95 percent of the materiel required for a major regional contingency…. We simply cannot overstate the vital contribution of our U.S. merchant marine. Our national security strategy depends on it."

Secretary of Navy John Dalton, May 7, 1997:

"Sealift is critical to the security of the United States. More to the point, sealift is absolutely critical to the sustainment of military operations…. It is absolutely crucial that we maintain America's organic sealift capability. Sealift was a vital element in our success in DESERT STORM… and it was vital in Somalia. In fact, carrying troops and equipment to the front lines--from the sea--has been the foundation of our military successes since the Revolution…. We must continue our focus on building and maintaining the right sealift to ensure our forces have the tools necessary to defend America's vital interests around the world…. the Maritime Security Act of 1996 goes a long way toward that end. With the overwhelming approval of the 104th Congress, President Clinton put us on course to protect American jobs and maintain a U.S. presence in international maritime trade, in both peacetime and wartime. Most importantly, the Maritime Security Act reaffirms America's resolve to maintain a strong U.S.-flag presence on the high seas."

Gen. Walter Kross, USAF, Commander in Chief, U.S. Transportation Command, September 19, 1997:

"Our national military strategy is a two-war strategy…. our role is to build war plans, and then put assets against it so that our combat forces can carry out our nation's interest in two major regional contingencies while doing everything else we have to do in peacetime in small contingencies…. We commonly call it a two-war strategy, but we have slightly less than a one-war capability. With a reasonable degree of risk, this one-war capability carries out that two-war strategy. How can we do that? Well, it's not only through the inherent agility of transportation forces being able to swing, but it's also smart planning, smart execution and the outstanding leverage that is provided to us by our civilian partners when we mobilize…. We have a mission for our country that will never, ever go away. That's why we have to have a robust shipbuilding and sealift industry. At TRANSCOM this whole idea is central to what we do…. The Maritime Security Program…. gives us the U.S.-flag presence we need in international shipping. It gives us that guarantee, that stability so we can get on and plan and execute and have the job security that's all attached to that."

President Bill Clinton, October 1996:

"[The Maritime Security Act] will ensure that the United States will continue to have American-flag ships crewed by loyal American citizen merchant mariners to meet our Nation's economic and sealift defense requirements. . . By contracting with the owners and operators of U.S.-flag commercial vessels, the Government will gain access to a fleet of modern commercial ships, along with the sophisticated intermodal transportation system supporting it. The Government also assures that the seafaring men and women who crew these commercial ships in peacetime will be available to crew the Government's reserve sealift ships in time of crisis."

Majority Leader Trent Lott, September 19, 1996:

"Some of our Nation's most distinguished current and former military leaders have said, time and again, that we must have U.S.-flag commercial ships and American-citizen crews to effectively and reliably meet our sustainment sealift requirements. I agree with their assessment. We must make sure that our soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen will not have to count on foreign-flag ships to bring their supplies and ammunition to a hostile shore. They have also urged us to support the U.S.-flag merchant marine, because they know that the Government-owned Ready Reserve Force -- the Pentagon's rapid deployment fleet -- relies absolutely on the availability of American-citizen merchant mariners to crew its ships. If there is no maritime employment, there will be no merchant mariners, and we will be forced to turn elsewhere. Foreign-flag ships and foreign crews have proven unreliable in the past, they have turned around and fled in the face of danger. The U.S.-flag merchant marine, on the other hand, has served with distinction and honor since the Revolutionary War."

Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), September 19, 1996:

"Military capability and surge sealift capability are, however, only two legs of the three legged stool for our advance deployed military force. The third leg is the ability to sustain these forces over extended periods of time, after we place them in foreign territory, far from home.... It was the U.S.-flag fleet which stepped into the gap and provided the sustainment sealift during the initial months of Desert Storm. These ships were fully crewed and ready to serve because they were operating in regular commercial service in the foreign waterborne commerce. These companies and mariners were ready when our Nation called, and they honored their contractual commitments to the Federal Government... [the U.S.-flag fleet] provides the link between those water-borne assets and the Department of Defense mobility structure."

Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), September 19, 1996:

"This country, the sole remaining superpower, cannot be put in a position of relying on the goodwill of foreign nations to transport vital military cargo. And, we cannot rely on the goodwill of foreign nations to achieve the transportation of cargoes vital to our economic interests. It is not an acceptable or prudent national policy.... We must be able to ensure that U.S.-flag shipping is available to bring materiel and ammunition to soldiers who are defending our interests on foreign soil...in the past we have often taken for granted the role of the merchant marine in the economy and security of the United States. We cannot afford to do so today -- nor can we suddenly rebuild a maritime capability in the future if we need it urgently.... We need a merchant marine in place that is strong and reliable in both peacetime and wartime."

Gen. Robert L. Rutherford, USAF, Commander in Chief, U.S. Transportation Command, July 26, 1995:

"While we pursue the essential modernization of our organic sealift fleet, we have not forgotten the importance of the U.S. maritime industry to our overall sealift capabilities. Just as we did in the Gulf War, Somalia, and most recently back to the Persian Gulf, we rely extensively on our commercial partners to support our worldwide commitments. In peacetime we ship over 16 million tons of DoD cargo using privately owned U.S.-flag ships manned by U.S. mariners, spending over $1.7 billion annually within the maritime industry. In wartime we depend upon the U.S. merchant fleet to support the flow of sustainment and ammunition cargoes and to provide the mariners necessary to man our organic ships."

Gen. Colin Powell, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1992:

"Since I became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I have come to appreciate first hand why our merchant marine has long been called the nation's fourth arm of defense…The merchant marine and our maritime industry will be vital to our national security for many years to come."