U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) wrote a letter Friday to his House colleagues to reject an amendment by U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI). to an energy security bill that would have stripped the U.S. maritime industry of $500 million in funding for the Maritime Security Program at Scott Air Force Base near Belleville.
“Funding for the Maritime Security Program at Scott Air Force Base is essential in strengthening our military readiness,” Bost said. “This helps fund the 60-vessel fleet of ships that are a vital element of our national defense. This was a fight not just for my home district, but for the security of our nation. I am pleased we were successful in maintaining funding.”
The 60-vessel fleet is necessary to meet global cargo requirement for deployed military, Gen. Darren McDew, commander of the U.S. Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base, said.
The energy security bill passed the House without Amash’s amendment attached, but Bost’s letter for funding was attached.
The energy security bill would lift the de facto ban on the export of domestically produced crude oil; help create thousands of new jobs in the oil and gas sector and manufacturers, such as U.S. Steel in Granite City; generate $1.4 billion in profits over the next 10 years from oil and gas leases; lower gas prices by 1.5 cents to 13 cents per gallon; support up to 964,000 additional U.S. jobs in 2018; and allow the U.S. to help our allies, enhance our energy security and weaken OPEC and Russia’s monopoly power.
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