HOUSE MARITIME PANEL BACKS MSP, U.S. CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENT

HOUSE MARITIME PANEL BACKS MSP, U.S. CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENT    Members of the House Merchant Marine panel of the Armed Services Committee voiced their support of reauthorizing the Maritime Security Program and for preserving the U.S. citizenship requirements for MSP vessel operators.
   The panel, in a letter to Chairman Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., said the program, which provides subsidies to 47 U.S.-flagged, U.S.-crewed ships to ensure their availability in time of war or national emergency, 'is critical to the national security of the United States.'
   Duncan backed the program in a statement to the House on April 26, responding to rumors that the citizenship requirement could be modified. He pushed for Congress to reauthorize the program with its citizenship requirements intact to 'provide the industry with the timely assurance they need that the MSP program will continue.'
   The 10-year MSP program is scheduled to expire in September 2005.
   Duncan's comments in April were met with support from the American Shipbuilding Association and the Shipbuilders Council of America.