March 4, 2022
The Honorable Suzan DelBene
United States House of Representatives
Rayburn House Office Building 2330
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congresswoman DelBene:
On behalf of the members of the American Shipbuilding Suppliers Association (ASSA), I would like to express our sincere appreciation to you as a champion of “Buy America.” ASSA is a member driven, national organization, advocating for the American Shipbuilding Supplier Base to the U. S. Congress, Navy, Coast Guard, and shipbuilders to ensure the long-term stability of the U. S. national maritime industry and we are dedicated to protecting the domestic shipbuilding supply chain. Your actions in support of “Buy America” last year clearly demonstrated your commitment to this issue as well. Attached you will find the ASSA white paper outlining our position in defense of the “Buy America” law to clearly demonstrate our organizational commitment to this issue.
Because of your deep dedication and commitment to supporting and maintaining a robust shipbuilding supplier industrial base, I am honored to inform you that our members would like to recognize you with our association’s highest honor as the 2022 recipient of The Honorable Thad Cochran Leadership Award. This award recognizes that person in Congress who demonstrates and exemplifies their dedication and commitment to the US domestic shipbuilding supplier industrial base. Past recipients have included Congressman Donald Norcross, Congressman Rob Wittman, Senator Tammy Baldwin, Congressman Joe Courtney, and Congressman John Garamendi. Last year, when we came to you to ask for your leadership to help one of our members and your constituent, Lister Chain, you stepped up to challenge legislation that allowed the Navy to go to a foreign source for critical components, thereby jeopardizing the viability of the only remaining US supplier for anchor chain. You were successful in closing a major acquisition loophole that allowed for the use of foreign suppliers of critical Navy components, thereby allowing a US small business entity to continue to provide their products to the Navy without the threat of competition from countries not members of the National Technical Industrial Base. Your efforts exemplify your commitment to Buy America and protection of the domestic shipbuilding supplier industrial base.
We normally make these presentations at a Capitol Hill reception, but the remaining vestiges of COVID have necessitated a virtual meeting. Given these circumstances, we would like to present the award to you in your office on March 23rd any time after 1pm. Michael Stobbart of Lister Chain will join me for this presentation.
Thank you again for your continued support of the US domestic shipbuilding supplier industrial base and I look forward to meeting you on the 23rd.
Sincerely,
Carl Fisher
Founder