American Flagship Project Challenges President Obama's Statement (09/17/12) That He's Doing Everything He Can "to Make Sure That American Workers Get a Fair Shot in the Global Economy"

NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Press Release from World City America www.americanflagship.com.

On September 17, 2012, President Obama told the American people that he "has been waking up every single day" doing everything he can to "give American workers a fair shot in the global economy" and went on to say that when "other countries don't play by the rules, we've done something about it."

"That's simply not true," says Stephanie Gallagher, President of World City America Inc., a company that has invested over $60 million to capture a share of the $40 billion-a-year North American cruise market. According to Gallagher, "over 200 oceangoing cruise ships sail out of US ports in direct competition with US hotels, resorts and entertainment facilities, but they don't pay US taxes, don't hire American officers, crew or hospitality workers and are NOT bound by America's labor, safety, or environmental rules of the road."

"Instead of giving this American-flag initiative a 'fair shot' against this foreign-flag industry operating right here on our shores," Gallagher said, "the Obama Administration wants to do even more for these foreign companies and has now enacted a policy to block Americans from competing in an industry that derives over 90% of its revenues from American passengers and is competing unfairly with American hospitality organizations."

"It's a scandal," says Gallagher. "The foreign-flag operators not only have a huge unfair advantage in the hospitality market, but now our own government under President Obama has enacted a policy to preempt America's participation in this booming US-driven market."

President Obama's US Maritime Administrator, David Matsuda, advised World City America Inc. that the Maritime Agency has adopted a policy prohibiting the use of the nation's ship financing program for construction of American flag cruise ships.

"The whole purpose of this ship financing program," explains Gallagher, "is to make it possible for American shipowners to obtain long-term financing on terms and conditions and at interest rates comparable to those available to large corporations (60 Fed. Reg.20592)."

"The Obama Administration has unilaterally decided that it will not permit the ship financing program to be used for cruise ship construction," Gallagher said, "thereby blocking any American start-ups from competing in this foreign-dominated field that already operates with a huge and unfair competitive advantage in competition with the American hospitality industry."

"Moreover," Gallagher added, "the construction in Europe of this huge fleet of foreign-flag ships was itself subsidized by the governments of Finland, Italy, France and Germany." 

"The cruise industry," says Gallagher, "is the only sector of the international shipping industry
that is doing well and has consistently done well year after year after year. Why would our own President want to exclude Americans from that activity?"

"This is an industry that is effectively being subsidized by our own government," Gallagher alleges, "and instead of 'doing something about it,' the Obama Administration has slammed the door shut on America's participation."

"Walk the talk" Mr. Obama?

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ABOUT THE AMERICAN FLAGSHIP PROJECT

World City America Inc. was formed to design, build and operate a new class of passenger vessel that could be constructed competitively in the United States and compete successfully in the foreign-dominated cruise sector under a US-flag operation. More information about the American Flagship project can be found on its website: www.americanflagship.com

Contact:

Stephanie Gallagher, President
World City America Inc.
Cold Spring Landing
22 West Street
Cold Spring, New York 10516

212-972-9000; fax 212-972-9006
[email protected]

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SOURCE World City America Inc.