THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 10, 1994 TAG: 9411100666
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHRISTOPHER DINSMORE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
One of the prizes falling to Republicans as a result of Tuesday's election will likely land in the lap of Rep. Herbert H. Bateman.
The Newport News congressman said Wednesday he is in line to become chairman of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee in the next Congress as the Republicans take over the House of Representatives after 40 years. That could bode well for Newport News Shipbuilding and others in the Hampton Roads maritime industry. ``It will be a new experience being in the majority,'' Bateman said. ``The responsibility of running a committee will be a heavy one.''
If Bateman does become chairman of the Merchant Marine Committee, Newport News Shipbuilding ``would be very pleased,'' said yard spokesman Michael Hatfield. ``He's been a longtime supporter, not only of the shipyard, but of the maritime industry generally, so that would be very good news.''
Bateman expects to become committee chairman because two more-senior members are in line to become chairmen of other committees that he expects they will prefer.
``To have the ear of the congressman will be a benefit to the local trade community,'' said J.J. Keever, executive vice president of the Hampton Roads Maritime Association, whose members include the shipping lines and other companies active in the region's port.
``Any time you have someone from this local area in a powerful position like that, it adds to the importance of this area,'' Keever said.
The Merchant Marine Committee oversees the Maritime Administration, the Customs Service, the Coast Guard and various fishery and environmental issues. It also would be responsible for recommending subsidies for the U.S. merchant ship fleet and the nation's shipyards.
Bateman has long been an advocate of Newport News Shipbuilding. Last year he pushed for a subsidy program that would have helped it and other big U.S. shipyards make the transition to commercial shipbuilding from their longtime dependence on Navy shipbuilding. ``American shipyards are just not going to be able to compete in the world shipbuilding market without a little help to get them through the learning curve,'' Bateman said.
Bateman has advocated a subsidy program aimed at making U.S. shipyards more competitive internationally.
The Clinton administration had objected to the subsidy since it violated a recently negotiated, but not yet ratified, pact between shipbuilding nations to eliminate most shipbuilding subsidies.
Bateman said he plans to pursue some sort of shipyard subsidy program again, but he's unsure how to fund it. Another measure he supports would provide an operating subsidy for the dwindling U.S.-flag commercial shipping fleet. It failed to pass in the last Congress as it ran into objections from representatives of states that thought the funding mechanism would adversely effect industries in their states.
``We're going to have to address maritime reform again in a way that will allow us to maintain an American merchant marine fleet,'' Bateman said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Bateman
by CNB