The following is excerpted from a letter dated October 29 and sent to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg by U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR), chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; Adam Smith (D-WA), chair of the Armed Services Committee; Joe Courtney (D-CT), chair of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces; Jackie Speier (D-CA), chair of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel; and Salud Carbajal (D-CA), chair of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation; and by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

We are very concerned with the recent allegations of sexual assault by a female cadet at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) during her Sea Year experience in 2019. This brave female cadet not only shared her story on the terrible circumstance she endured while at sea, but also detailed alarming statistics regarding the number of other female cadets within her class who have also been harassed and assaulted. In response to the blog post, there have been countless other brave individuals who have come forward to share their personal stories during their time at sea. This incident sheds light on the toxic culture not only at USMMA, but within the maritime industry where cadets and mariners are in danger and have no escape from their perpetrators.

In 2016, the Department of Transportation (department or DOT) stood down the Sea Year program to implement changes to better protect students. But those changes clearly did not work, and we are concerned that the cadets remain in danger.

Despite the recent allegations, it has come to our attention that DOT is considering sending cadets back to sea on commercial vessels in a matter of weeks with few meaningful changes or safeguards in place. While we understand that improved communication devices would be provided to each student, this course of action on its own falls short and is unacceptable. Since the Department has given no indication that meaningful and necessary steps have been taken to ensure the safety of cadets in the Sea Year program, we believe the USMMA should not proceed with Sea Year this term. Prior to the resumption of Sea Year, we request the USMMA develop a public written action plan that includes detailed steps that will be taken to ensure the safety of cadets at sea.

While we understand the importance of a timely graduation for USMMA cadets, the safety of those same cadets should be your top concern. We stand ready to assist the Department in ensuring a complete educational experience and a timely graduation.

Furthermore, we believe there needs to be a change in the leadership of the USMMA. Vice Admiral Joachim Buono, USMMA Superintendent, has failed to take seriously the safety of his students and has not demonstrated a commitment to change the toxic culture at the Academy and during Sea Year. Superintendent Buono must be removed from his position.

We expect the department to adopt robust policy changes before the Sea Year program can resume. The maritime industry and United States Merchant Marine are a vital part of our national security and our nation's economy. Sexual harassment, sexual assault, and other offenses are intolerable, and the department must take immediate and long-term action to stop these offenses to protect the cadets of the USMMA, both at the Academy and at sea.