Why the CMTS Matters

CMTS Background

The U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS) is a Federal maritime policy coordinating committee consisting of fourteen Cabinet Secretaries. By charter, the CMTS is chaired by the Secretary of Transportation. The purpose of the CMTS is to create a partnership of Federal departments and agencies with responsibility for the Marine Transportation System (MTS).

The CMTS was first stood up in response to a directive in the U.S. Ocean Action Plan, issued on December 17, 2004 (available at https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/63229), and CMTS authorized by Congress in the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act, 46 U.S.C. § 50401 (2012).

In its organic statute, Congress has designated the CMTS to serve as a Federal interagency coordinating committee for the purpose of:

• Promoting the integration of the MTS with other modes of transportation and other marine environment uses
• Coordinating, improving the coordination of, and making recommendations related to MTS relevant Federal policy, and
• Developing a series of reports to Congress every five years that include:
• A summary of the Federal role in the MTS
• An assessment of the state of the MTS through a conditions and performance report
• A recommendation of the needed investment by Congress to ensure MTS system infrastructure meets future demand,
• And how the U.S. Government is implementing the National Strategy for the Marine Transportation System.

Much of the day-to-day policy coordination and work plan establishment are handled by the sub-Cabinet "Coordinating Board" consisting of agency heads and key office directors, including the White House. Over 25 Federal agencies and offices are engaged in the Coordinating Board, and the membership is growing. In 2014, the Marine Mammals Commission and the National Maritime Intelligence Integration Office were added to the roster, and in 2021 the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement joined. Any Cabinet-level member may appoint senior level representatives to serve on the Coordinating Board, if your agency is not currently represented, please reach out the CMTS Executive Secretariate about requesting an appointment.

The activities of the CMTS are guided by the National Strategy for Marine Transportation System. The most recent strategy, Cultivating a Resilient and Sustainable Blue Economy 2023 - 2028, identifies five strategic priority areas (Unity, Health & Welfare, Safety & Security, Sustainability, and Optimization) and is available at https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/66755. The National Strategy guides the yearly work plan which is then implemented through interagency teams, agency leadership, and staff support. When an issue does not fall neatly within the purview of a single agency's authority or when efficiencies can be gained by leveraging expertise from multiple agencies around a common goal, the CMTS can be a valuable tool for engagement.

The marine transportation system is essential to the American economy; it supports millions of American jobs, facilitates trade, moves people and goods, and provides a safe, secure, cost-effective, and energy-efficient transportation alternative. The CMTS is working to ensure that the MTS continues to meet the present and future needs of our nation. This interagency collaboration has resulted in a safer, more secure, environmentally friendly, and efficient MTS and will continue to help the sector thrive into the future.

Leadership

In addition to the leadership of the Secretary of Transportation, day-to-day management and policy guidance is provided by the CMTS Coordinating Board. The Coordinating Board is made up of the heads of MTS-related agencies. More than twenty-five different agencies and departmental offices with MTS interests are represented on the Coordinating Board. [https://www.cmts.gov/organizational-structure/].

As directed in statute, the Chair of the Coordinating Board rotates annually between the Secretaries of Transportation, Defense, Commerce, and Homeland Security. The Secretary of Transportation annually asks for a designee to the position from the Secretary next in rotation. The Board meets quarterly to consider, approve, and review the CMTS work plan. Work plan tasks are carried out by task teams, or Integrated Action Teams. All CMTS activities are aligned with the current CMTS National Strategy for the Marine Transportation System.

The Executive Secretariat is the staff office that supports the activities of the CMTS, Coordinating Board, and task teams. [under "Topics/Projects"] The Executive Director of the CMTS leads the staff office and acts as the Executive Secretary of the Coordinating Board. CMTS member agencies provide additional expert staff support to the Executive Secretariat and interagency teams.

While not directed in the CMTS charter or in statute, the Executive Secretariat operates a "working group" through which multi-agency staff participation and work efforts are encouraged and managed. The working group meets monthly. The work plan tasks are proposed, led, and supported by the member agencies.