Texas Senate Bill SCR25

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Urging the Texas delegation to Congress to express to the U.S. Maritime Administration and the jurisdictional congressional committees the critical need to provide a national security multimission training vessel to the Texas A&M Maritime Academy.

Impact

The absence of an adequate training vessel has hindered the ability of TAMMA to produce qualified maritime professionals, which has broader implications for national security and emergency management in the Gulf Coast region. The resolution also underscores the impact on Texas' economy, as the state is home to one of the busiest ports in the nation and significantly contributes to the country’s oil and gas production. Supporters argue that with the proper vessel, TAMMA can better prepare cadets to meet the workforce demands of the maritime industry while ensuring faster disaster response capabilities during emergencies.

Summary

SCR25 urges the Texas delegation to Congress to advocate for the provision of a national security multimission training vessel for the Texas A&M Maritime Academy (TAMMA). The resolution highlights the vital role that TAMMA plays in training U.S. Coast Guard maritime professionals and its contributions to disaster relief efforts. Currently, TAMMA lacks a sufficiently sized vessel to meet its training needs, which means it often has to send cadets to other academies, placing them at a disadvantage in terms of leadership roles. The resolution seeks to remedy this situation by calling for enhanced resources that would allow TAMMA to fulfill its educational and emergency response missions more effectively.

Contention

Although SCR25 is largely supportive of increasing resources for maritime training, potential contention may arise from differing viewpoints on federal funding priorities and the allocation of resources between states. Some may argue that increasing federal support for one academy could divert necessary funds from other essential maritime and educational programs. However, proponents maintain that the strategic importance of TAMMA and its role in disaster relief, coupled with the current shortage of trained seafarers, merits focused attention and investment.