Omnibus Appropriations Bill – Key Maritime Provisions

House and Senate appropriators reached a budget deal to fund the U.S. Government for the balance of fiscal year 2014 (which ends September 3). The omnibus bill contains a number of key maritime provisions. The bill full funds the Maritime Security Program at $186 million – a program that had been subject to potential sequester and other budget cuts. The bill also requires the U.S. Maritime Administration to report to Congress within 90 days of the impact on the U.S. merchant marine of cuts in cargo reserved to U.S.-flag vessels and to further develop a strategy that ensures the long-term viability of the U.S. merchant marine. The bill also funds the U.S. Government Title XI guarantee program at a robust $38 million and restricts the scrapping of vessels by MARAD to U.S. facilities given certain conditions.