Bryant Gardner Discusses Food Aid Shipping with The Hill

Winston & Strawn partner Bryant Gardner was quoted in The Hill article “Lobbying Fight Erupts on Food Aid Shipping” on April 25, 2014. The article discusses the current debate concerning a hidden provision within a Coast Guard reauthorization bill that would increase the percentage of international food aid that must be shipped on U.S.-flagged vessels. On one side of the debate are international food aid groups, who argue that the shippers seek to usurp more of the international food aid budget. On the other side, shippers claim the provision would financially benefit the government in the long run.

Mr. Gardner was quoted concerning the cost increase of shipping food aid. According to Mr. Gardner, instead of the $75 million estimated by the Department of Homeland Security’s acting assistant secretary of legislative affairs Brian de Vallance, the increase is closer to $11 million.

“Using cargo preference is a much more efficient way to go,” Mr. Gardner said. “What we are talking about is taking a transportation dollar that we already have to spend and instead leveraging that dollar to ensure we have the fleet … we need for war and national emergency purposes.”

Mr. Gardner also noted that maintaining a merchant fleet capable of transporting war equipment would cost $10 billion over the same period.

Mr. Gardner practices in Winston & Strawn’s Washington, D.C. office. He concentrates his practice in transportation and logistics-related transactions, litigation, and regulatory matters, with an emphasis on maritime and energy issues.