National Industrial Transportation League also wants more commissioners appointed to Federal Maritime Commission.
The National Industrial Transportation League is urging the White House to reappoint Commissioner Daniel Maffei to the Federal Maritime Commission. His term expires Saturday and is not subject to any holdover provisions.
“Our members rely on the commission and its strong commitment to shaping federal maritime regulations and intervening on matters of highest importance to our industry and all Americans,” wrote Mary Pileggi, the chair of the NIT League, in a letter to Mary Elizabeth Taylor, deputy director of legislative affairs of nominations at the White House.
The FMC is an independent agency and has five commissioners when fully staffed. When Maffei leaves at the end of the week, only Acting Chairman Michael Khouri and Commissioner Rebecca Dye will remain.
“Currently the commission is operating below its capacity, with two vacancies. With the impending departure of Mr. Maffei, this creates a third vacancy and hamstrings the ability of the commission to run effectively and efficiently,” wrote Pileggi, who is an executive at the chemical company Chemours. “The reappointment of Commissioner Maffei will ensure that the commission remains in a position to do its work and carry out the regulatory reform goals of the administration. “
She said that Maffei, a former congressman from New York, “has been a valuable member of the commission, demonstrating a deep commitment to the work and ideals of the commission since his initial appointment in July 2016, building on a career as an exemplary public servant.”
Don Pisano, the logistics committee chairman of the Green Coffee Association, also expressed concern the FMC “may not be able to continue to serve the American industries at the needed capacity without it being fully staffed. We have found Commissioner Maffei to be an extremely valuable member of the commission, having developed a keen understanding of the maritime industry since his initial appointment in July 2016 and demonstrating a strong commitment to fairness and the interests of the American shipper.”
In an interview in February, Maffei told American Shipper that he would like to stay at the FMC, but even then wondered if there was enough time for his renomination and confirmation.
“I think it does good work and I have enjoyed it immensely, particularly after my experience in Congress, which is so partisan and political. This is far more substantive and essentially nonpartisan. There are always some disagreements, but I don’t know if they are even along party lines,” he said. “I do think it adds credibility to the commission to have both parties represented.”
Maffei is a Democrat, while Khouri and Dye are Republicans.
“I certainly think the president should have a majority of his own party. By my coming back, even if no other Republican was appointed, would still keep two Republican appointees and one Democrat,” Maffei said.
“The more commissioners we have the better it is in terms of our expertise and what we’re able to do internationally in terms of travel and that sort of thing,” he said.
Shippers urge reappointment of Maffei to FMC
