45 JUNE 2026 vessel industry, including the Mar- itime Security Program, maritime academy training, port infrastructure investments, and the Small Shipyard Grant Program. MARAD Administrator Carmel highlighted the Small Shipyard Grant Program as one of its most successful and consistently oversubscribed initia- tives. The program provides funding for capital improvements, equipment purchases, and workforce training projects at qualified shipyards across the country. Many PVA members rely on small and mid-sized domestic ship- yards for vessel construction, main- tenance, repair, and modernization work, making continued investment in shipyard capacity and workforce development an important priority for the industry. As Congress begins consideration of both the FY 2027 budget request and future maritime legislation, PVA will continue monitoring developments affecting MARAD programs and ad- vocating for policies that strengthen the domestic maritime industry and U.S.-flag passenger vessel operations. ORAL FLUID TESTING MOVES ONE STEP CLOSER The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken an important step toward making oral fluid drug testing available for federally regulated trans- portation employees. In a recent Fed- eral Register notice, FDA proposed removing a regulatory hurdle that has delayed the development and certifica- tion of oral fluid testing devices. The change could help clear the way for laboratories and testing equipment needed to support the oral fluid test- ing program authorized by the De- partment of Transportation in 2023. Oral fluid testing is viewed as less sus- ceptible to cheating and better able to detect recent drug use than traditional urine testing. While the FDA proposal addresses a major obstacle, oral fluid testing still cannot be used under fed- eral transportation testing programs until at least two laboratories are cer- tified by the Department of Health and Human Services. PVA and other transportation organizations continue to support efforts to bring oral fluid testing online as an additional option for workplace drug testing.
View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.