Key Takeaways
- •Stephen M. Carmel (Administrator, Maritime Administration) warned of a structural collapse in U.S. maritime power, urging a shift from subsidies to securing commercial cargo access.
- •Randall Reed (Commander, U.S. Transportation Command) identified the air refueling fleet as his most stressed asset and called for immediate planning to replace aging C-17 aircraft.
- •Rep. John Garamendi (D, CA-8) pressed the witnesses on a recent Jones Act waiver request, but both Reed and Carmel testified they were not consulted on the decision.
- •Members from both parties supported the SHIPS Act to mandate U.S. energy exports on American-built vessels, though Rep. Eric Sorensen (D, IL-17) blamed food aid cuts for cargo losses.
- •The subcommittees will hold a joint hearing with the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on April 22nd to further coordinate legislative solutions for the maritime industrial base.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
This hearing examined the strategic posture and operational readiness of the nation’s mobility enterprise, focusing on the critical logistics required to project power across vast distances, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. The discussion centered on the "tyranny of distance" and the deteriorating state of both organic military and commercial maritime and aerial assets. Members and witnesses emphasized that while logistics are often overlooked, they are the foundation of national security, currently facing a "trajectory-altering" moment due to aging fleets, a shortage of qualified mariners, and a structural decline in the U.S. commercial maritime industry.
Key Testimony & Policy
General Randall Reed (Commander, U.S. Transportation Command) and Stephen M. Carmel (Administrator, Maritime Administration) provided testimony highlighting a mobility enterprise at a crossroads. Gen. Reed emphasized that the air refueling fleet is currently the most stressed component of the joint force. He advocated for the continued recapitalization of the tanker fleet, specifically the KC-46A Pegasus, noting that even after current procurement plans, the military will still rely on roughly 300 KC-135 Stratotankers that will be nearly 70 years old. He also raised concerns about the C-17 Globemaster III fleet, which averages 22 years of age, stating that the time to design a successor platform is now to avoid excessive service life extensions.
Administrator Carmel offered a blunt assessment of the maritime sector, stating the U.S. has not built a commercial ship for the global market since 1960. He argued that "cargo is king" and that the current reliance on the Maritime Security Program (MSP) and Tanker Security Program (TSP) is insufficient because these programs focus on military utility rather than commercial viability. Carmel warned against expanding the TSP beyond its current 10-vessel limit without first increasing access to commercial cargo, as doing so would "cannibalize" existing programs. He advocated for a "National Maritime Strategy" that integrates the Department of Commerce and the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to ensure U.S. ships have access to international trade, rather than relying solely on government-impelled cargo.
Legislative focus included the SHIPS Act (Ships for America Act), which proposes requiring a percentage of U.S. energy exports, such as LNG and oil, to be carried on American-built and flagged vessels. The subcommittee also discussed the success of the Vessel Contract Manager (VCM) model used for the National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMV) and its potential application to the National Defense Reserve Fleet and Landing Ship Medium (LSM) programs.
Notable Exchanges & Partisan Dynamics
A significant point of contention arose regarding a recent Jones Act waiver request by the Secretary of Defense. Rep. John Garamendi (D, CA-8) expressed sharp concern over the waiver, which was requested to assist the fertilizer industry. Both Gen. Reed and Administrator Carmel testified they were not consulted prior to the request, with Carmel noting the waiver was issued under 501(a) authority by the Department of Defense. Rep. Garamendi argued such waivers undermine the domestic maritime industry and the SHIPS Act's goals.
Rep. Robert Wittman (R, VA-1) and Rep. Joe Courtney (D, CT-2) found common ground on the urgent need to address the C-17 fleet's aging process and the necessity of a unified maritime strategy. Rep. Eric Sorensen (D, IL-17) criticized the current administration's handling of international food aid, arguing that reductions in humanitarian cargo directly harm the readiness of the U.S. flag fleet by reducing the "preference cargo" that sustains merchant mariners.
Rep. Jack Bergman (R, MI-1) focused on "contested logistics," questioning Gen. Reed on how TRANSCOM handles fuel delivery in the Indo-Pacific. Gen. Reed noted the need for a "mixed fleet" of fuel vessels, including smaller, shallow-draft ships to operate in distributed environments. Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R, TN-4) queried the witnesses on medical evacuation capabilities, referencing Exercise Ultimate Caduceus 2025 and the challenges of maintaining the "golden hour" of trauma care in a high-end conflict.
Organizations Mentioned
* United States Transportation Command (TRANSCOM): Managed the global movement of forces and is currently conducting a new Mobility Capability Requirements Study (MCRS). * Maritime Administration (MARAD): Responsible for the Ready Reserve Force and merchant marine training; the Administrator called for a total re-architecture of the maritime system. * Department of Commerce (Commerce): Identified as a necessary partner in a National Maritime Strategy to secure commercial cargo for U.S. ships. * Federal Maritime Commission (FMC): Mentioned as a key stakeholder in developing a viable base of commercial cargo to support the U.S. flag fleet. * Air National Guard: Highlighted for its role in the tanker mission and the tragic loss of airmen in the recent KC-135 crash (Zeus 95). * Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank): Cited as a source of government-impelled cargo that currently sustains the limited U.S. flag international fleet. * Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech): Cadets from the university were recognized for their future leadership roles in the mobility enterprise. * Military Sealift Command (MSC): Discussed in the context of competing for the same limited pool of preference cargo as the Ready Reserve Force.
What's Next
The witnesses and members identified several upcoming milestones. TRANSCOM is currently conducting the next Mobility Capability Requirements Study (MCRS), which is due to Congress in early 2025. This study will inform future force structure for tankers and airlift. Additionally, a joint hearing between the House Armed Services Committee and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is scheduled for April 22nd to further address maritime industry solutions. The subcommittee will also continue to refine the SHIPS Act and evaluate statutory changes for the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to bolster sealift and tanker capacity.
Transcript
I call this hearing to order. Good afternoon. Before we start, I'd like to take a moment and remember all the casualties from Operation Epic Fury to include the six fallen airmen from last week's tragic crash of Zeus 95. Our thoughts go out with the family members. We mourn each of them. The KC-135 community is a large one and this loss has reverberated across that family. Today is good to be back with our readiness colleagues for another joint hearing. Our topic is the posture and readiness for our mobility enterprise. Thank you to my good friend and Seapower Ranking Member Joe Courtney, as well as Readiness Chairman Jack Bergman and Ranking Member John Garamendi for their collaboration on this critical, often overlooked topic. And I'm just going to take a few moments, just a moment of silence for those fallen comrades, those six and the other seven that we know of now and any others that are in harm's way. The United States Transportation Command and Maritime Administration, TRANSCOM and MARAD, provide vital logistic capabilities in support of our force projection to help overcome the tyranny of distance. It's only getting harder to move and sustain our equipment and our people across these vast distances. However, this mobility is the foundation of our ability to project peace through strength. This challenge will require both organic and commercial logistics capability. Within the Seapower jurisdiction, the subcommittee continues our strong support for the Tanker Security Program as well as the Maritime Security Program. The FY 25 NDAA strengthened these programs and we stand by to provide any additional statutory changes that assure our access to critical sealift capability for liquid and dry cargoes on U.S. flag and U.S. crewed commercial vehicles. I think it was General Patton who said, operations are for amateurs, logistics are for professionals. General Reed, I know that you understand how important logistics are to our nation's armed forces. The same with you, Mr. Carmel. It is so important that we get the logistics piece right, whether that is getting there or getting back there or resupplying while we're there. There is nothing more important than TRANSCOM and MARAD. I'm going to enter the rest of my statement for the record, but before I do that, I just want to pass on, General Reed has his wonderful wife Lynn here with him today. As someone who has served, I understand that our family members, especially our spouses who endure our careers and allow us to do the jobs that we have to do, I cannot thank you enough. Your service is as great or greater than the service members that you allow to serve. And so I just can't go without saying thank you for being here today, as I'm sure you have been a partner throughout General Reed's career and we thank you for that. And with that, I recognize my friend Joe Courtney.
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