Posted:
June 19, 2012
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard "Buck" McKeon (R-CA) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) wrote the following letter, dated June 8, to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Transportation Raymond LaHood and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu.
We are writing to convey our strong support for the Jones Act and its benefits to the country's national, homeland, and economic security. The domestic maritime industry plays a critical role in our nation's security and we ask for your continued assistance in defending this important law.
As you know, the Jones Act requires that all waterborne cargo moved between two points in the United States be transported on American vessels. Since its enactment, the Jones Act has been supported by every Congress and President because of the security benefits it provides. America's domestic shipping industry is responsible for nearly 500,000 jobs and more than $100 billion in annual economic output.
The U.S. Navy has said that repeal of the Jones Act would "hamper [America's] ability to meet strategic sealift requirements and Navy shipbuilding." The Jones Act supports our industrial base and maintains a national maritime infrastructure that helps to ensure there will be ample U.S. sealift capacity to defend our nation. As members of the House Armed Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over this issue, we recognize the importance of the Jones Act and its invaluable contribution to our nation's security, which is why we are concerned about any efforts to weaken the law.
We understand that the Administration chose to waive the Jones Act approximately 50 times following the June 2011 release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). This decision allowed foreign vessels and foreign workers to transport oil from the SPR despite the availability of U.S. vessels. Under any circumstance, it is critical that the Administration ensures that U.S. vessels and U.S. seafarers are fully utilized before granting any Jones Act waivers. In the future, we urge the Administration to take all steps necessary to ensure that Jones Act vessels are used and that the transportation of goods, including petroleum products, is in compliance with our nation's cabotage laws.
We thank the Administration for recognizing the critical role the Jones Act plays in our nation's national, homeland, and economic security and appreciate its support for the Jones Act. We look forward to working with you in the future to ensure the continued strength of America's domestic maritime industry.
House Armed Services Committee leadership: 'We are writing to convey our strong support for the Jones Act'
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard "Buck" McKeon (R-CA) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) wrote the following letter, dated June 8, to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Transportation Raymond LaHood and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu.
We are writing to convey our strong support for the Jones Act and its benefits to the country's national, homeland, and economic security. The domestic maritime industry plays a critical role in our nation's security and we ask for your continued assistance in defending this important law.
As you know, the Jones Act requires that all waterborne cargo moved between two points in the United States be transported on American vessels. Since its enactment, the Jones Act has been supported by every Congress and President because of the security benefits it provides. America's domestic shipping industry is responsible for nearly 500,000 jobs and more than $100 billion in annual economic output.
The U.S. Navy has said that repeal of the Jones Act would "hamper [America's] ability to meet strategic sealift requirements and Navy shipbuilding." The Jones Act supports our industrial base and maintains a national maritime infrastructure that helps to ensure there will be ample U.S. sealift capacity to defend our nation. As members of the House Armed Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over this issue, we recognize the importance of the Jones Act and its invaluable contribution to our nation's security, which is why we are concerned about any efforts to weaken the law.
We understand that the Administration chose to waive the Jones Act approximately 50 times following the June 2011 release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). This decision allowed foreign vessels and foreign workers to transport oil from the SPR despite the availability of U.S. vessels. Under any circumstance, it is critical that the Administration ensures that U.S. vessels and U.S. seafarers are fully utilized before granting any Jones Act waivers. In the future, we urge the Administration to take all steps necessary to ensure that Jones Act vessels are used and that the transportation of goods, including petroleum products, is in compliance with our nation's cabotage laws.
We thank the Administration for recognizing the critical role the Jones Act plays in our nation's national, homeland, and economic security and appreciate its support for the Jones Act. We look forward to working with you in the future to ensure the continued strength of America's domestic maritime industry.