Dear Midshipmen:
You CAN help in the efforts to restore Sea Year and get the Academy re-accredited! Please contact your Congressman and two senators. If you are not sure who they are simply click on these links below and plug in your zip code. When your representative comes up, click on their name and you will be directed to their web page. Easy! Click on “contact” across the top and an email form will appear. Write to both your Senators and your Representative
House of Representatives
Senate
Here are some important notes and suggestions:
If your representative is one of the following: Peter King (NY2), Jackie Walorski (IN2), Dennis Ross (FL15), Senator Roger Wicker (MS), Virginia Foxx (NC5), Pete Sessions (TX32), Derek Kilmer (WA6), Chris Gibson (NY19), Kathleen Rice (NY4), Lee Zeldin (NY1), Ron Kind (WI3), Chris Smith (NJ4), Ron DeSantis (FL6), Scott Garrett (NJ5), Leonard Lance (NJ7), Frank LoBiondo (NJ2), or Tom MacArthur (NJ3), you can say THANK YOU for there recent support (see their letters here and here and ask for continued support. Let them know their efforts are appreciated.
Here is a sample letter for one of the above Members of Congress, feel free to personalize about your sea split (A or B):
I am a midshipman at the United States Merchant Marine Academy class of XXXX (nominated by you). I live and vote in [name of state if writing a senator or number of the Congressional district if writing a representative]. I am writing to express my gratitude for your letter last week in support of the Academy, the Sea Year curriculum, and the midshipmen. I appreciate all your efforts to restore the Academy’s accreditation and sea year program. I look forward to graduating this prestigious institution and sailing on my license on U.S flag commercial vessels. Please keep me updated on your progress.
Respectfully submitted,
If your representative is not listed above:
I am writing to ask for your help. I am a midshipman at the United States Merchant Marine Academy class of XXXX (nominated by you). I live and vote in [name of state if writing a senator or number of the Congressional district if writing a representative].
I am sure you are aware that this past June the Academy was placed on warning status by Middle States Commission on Higher Education and MARAD cancelled the sea year core curriculum indefinitely. This has jeopardized my training and ability to graduate from an accredited institution. This past week, Chairman of the Board of Visitors Peter King (NY) and 12 other Congressmen sent a letter to MARAD requesting answers to many issues concerning reaccreditation and sea year. Four more congressmen from New Jersey sent another letter to Secretary Foxx later in the week also requesting answers and supporting the sea year curriculum. I am respectfully requesting that you contact Congressman King and offer the same support for the Academy and midshipmen.
Respectfully submitted,
A few notes:
- If your Senator or Congressman nominated you to USMMA, great! Thank them.
- If they did not nominate you, they are still your representatives. You can still write them (just modify the letter accordingly).
- Make sure you write to all 3 of your representatives (2 senators, 1 congressman).
- Do not let anyone tell you not to write. They are YOUR representatives in Congress. You have a First Amendment right to petition them and no one can prohibit you from doing so.
- Always be polite and respectful. (We know, you already knew that).
- Personalized emails are best so feel free to add/change/delete sentences