House Members Rally Against Senator McCain’s Jones Act Amendment

In the newest present of assist for the Jones Act, 32 bipartisan Representatives have despatched a letter to Senate management urging them to reject a “misguided” modification piggybacked onto a Keystone XL Pipeline invoice by Senator John McCain that might repeal the U.S. construct requirement of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920.

The letter, which was addressed to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, expressed “serious concern” with modification #2 submitted by Senator McCain as a part of the controversy on the Keystone XL Pipeline Act (S.1), saying that the modification would have a dangerous impact on the U.S. financial system and nationwide safety. The letter continued:

“Shipbuilders are very important to America’s nationwide and financial safety as a result of they construct, restore, preserve and modernize the biggest and most subtle Navy and Coast Guard on the planet in addition to America’s fleet of roughly 40,000 business vessels. According to a latest examine by the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, America’s shipbuilding business helps greater than 400,000 jobs in all 50 states, which enhance our financial system by nearly $60 billion yearly. Each direct job within the shipbuilding and repairing business results in one other 2.7 jobs nationally, and every greenback of direct labor earnings results in one other $2.03 in labor earnings in different elements of the financial system.

“This amendment, which is unrelated to the underlying matter under debate and has no consideration by any of the committees of jurisdiction in the House or Senate, would have a detrimental effect at a time when our domestic commercial shipbuilding sector is seeing a surge in new vessel construction. We urge the rejection of this misguided proposal, and look forward to working with you to continue to grow a robust and vibrant domestic shipbuilding industry.”

As gCaptain reported beforehand, Arizona Senator John McCain final week launched this newest assault on the Jones Act after the Keystone XL Pipeline invoice handed an preliminary hurdle within the senate, saying that the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, generally known as the Jones Act, is an “antiquated law” that has “hindered free trade, made U.S. industry less competitive and raised prices for American consumers.”

Senator McCain’s modification was shortly met with backlash from Jones Act supporters, starting from the American Maritime Partnership, MEBA, SIU and the U.S. Navy league, to California Congressman Duncan Hunter, who has lengthy been one of many Jones Act’s greatest advocates in Congress.

The letter to Senator McConnell and Senator Reid was signed by 32 bipartisan Representatives, all of whom are listed beneath. The full letter will be discovered HERE.

Update: Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) have now additionally made their voices heard in assist of the Jones Act, issuing an announcement Wednesday saying that Senator McCain’s modification may endanger U.S. shipbuilding jobs and outsource work by carried out by American employees to overseas nations.

“This amendment could have a serious impact on jobs and economic growth across Pennsylvania from Erie to Philadelphia,” Senator Casey mentioned. “We should be voting on amendments that create more jobs for American workers instead of putting them at risk. The Jones Act protects American jobs and helps ensure the safety of our ports. Repealing the Jones Act would be a mistake.”

“Wisconsin is home to one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the nation, including a strong shipbuilding industry,” Senator Baldwin mentioned. “Repealing the Jones Act would not only negatively impact the thousands of hardworking Wisconsinites this industry employs, but it would also stifle our collective efforts to support a Made in America economy.”

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