"As one of the world 's leading maritime and trading nations, the United States relies on an effective and efficient Marine Transportation System (MTS) to facilitate commerce and project our national security. On December 17, 2004, President Bush directed a cabinet-level committee, the Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS), to create a partnership of Federal agencies. Currently, 18 different Federal agencies serve on the CMTS. The President charged the CMTS with providing high-level leadership and improved coordination to promote the safety, security, efficiency, economic vitality, sound environmental integration, and reliability of the MTS for commercial, recreational and national defense requirements. The CMTS developed the National Strategy for the Marine Transportation System: A Framework/or Action to serve as both a policy framework for the next five years and as a structure upon which to build an implementation plan for that policy. It presents the most pressing. current challenges facing marine transportation, and calls for coordinated Federal action in five priority areas: capacity, safety and security, environmental stewardship, resilience and reliability, and finance and economics. To identify the priority areas and Federal actions needed. the CMTS actively sought perspectives and ideas from a diverse group of stakeholders. The National Strategy responds to issues raised by and incorporates recommendations from commercial, national defense, and recreational interests. This framework/or Action helps ensure that America's Marine Transportation System serves the needs of the Nation now, and will grow to meet the challenges projected for the future."