Shutterstock American maritime and supply chain trade associations and organizations last week sent letters to Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin and Congressional leaders asking for help in coping with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. One letter, signed by a notably broad industry coalition asks for $3.5 billion in aid to the industry. A separate letter, sent to Senate committee leaders by a smaller group, asks that industry workers be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccinations. $3.5 BILLION AID PLEA Virtually identical letters sent to Mnuchin and House and Senate majority and minority leaders on December 9 by no fewer than 23 organizations notes that the COVID-19 crisis has seen total waterborne trade volume down 6.3% compared to last year, while the value of this trade has crashed by 13.9% totaling $200 billion. “Passenger movements remain virtually ceased,” says the letter, adding that “expenses have greatly increased due to COVID-19 protocols and precautions that we have implemented nationwide.”