On March 30, officers and representatives from U.S.-flag shipping companies, American maritime labor unions and related maritime organizations will be on Capitol Hill for the eleventh Maritime Industry Congressional Sail-In. The maritime industry leaders will be meeting with Senators, Representatives and their staffs to discuss the importance of the U.S.-flag merchant marine to our Nation’s economic, military and homeland security and the need to strengthen the commercial sealift readiness capability provided by our industry to the Department of Defense. Most importantly, they will be providing Congressional offices with the most up-to-date information about new and existing programs and policies important to the U.S.-flag merchant marine and to American maritime jobs, including the Maritime Security Program, the Tanker Security Program, the Jones Act, and the U.S.-flag cargo preference shipping programs. Members of Congress will be asked to work with our industry to increase the number of vessels operating under the U.S.-flag, to increase the share of cargo carried by U.S.-flag vessels, and to increase the number of maritime jobs available to American merchant mariners as a means to bolster America’s economy and to strengthen America’s national security,