Posted:
August 12, 2016
"Steve LaTourette was a reliable advocate of a strong U.S. merchant fleet and a faithful friend to American merchant mariners," said American Maritime Officers National President Paul Doell. "He saw Congressional support of the American merchant marine as a matter of common sense. We will miss his assistance and his counsel."
He was first elected to Congress in 1994 as the representative for what was at the time Ohio's 19th Congressional District. During his tenure, LaTourette served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Appropriations Committee.
He was a strong supporter of the Jones Act, the Maritime Security Program and U.S. cargo preference laws. He was a co-sponsor of the Saving Essential American Sailors Act of 2012, a bill that sought to rescind the 25 percent reduction in the statutory U.S.-flag share of food-aid shipments, which was enacted earlier that year.
LaTourette was an active advocate for the U.S.-flag Great Lakes shipping industry. He took a leading role in the fight to secure needed U.S. Coast Guard icebreaking assets for the Great Lakes Navigation System, as well as in the effort to ensure environmental regulations imposed on Great Lakes shipping were reasonable and uniform in accordance with the domestic industry's vital role as an artery of commerce and the most efficient and environmentally friendly form of cargo transportation available.
In 2000, he received the Great Lakes Legislator of the Year Award from the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force for his consistent and effective support on issues critical to maritime industry and labor on the Lakes.
Frustrated by increasing partisan gridlock on Capitol Hill, and known for his sense of duty in public service, LaTourette announced he would be retiring from Congress in 2012 after serving in office for 18 years.
Retired Congressman Steven LaTourette - a strong supporter of Great Lakes shipping, U.S. maritime industry
In this file photo, then-Congressman Steven LaTourette speaks at the ceremony during which Congressman Bob Gibbs (R-OH) was presented with the Great Lakes Legislator of the Year Award in 2012. LaTourette received the award from the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force in 2000.
Retired Republican Congressman Steven LaTourette, who most recently served as the U.S. Representative for Ohio's 14th District and stood as a staunch supporter of Great Lakes shipping and the U.S. maritime industry as a whole throughout his nine terms in office, died August 3 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 62."Steve LaTourette was a reliable advocate of a strong U.S. merchant fleet and a faithful friend to American merchant mariners," said American Maritime Officers National President Paul Doell. "He saw Congressional support of the American merchant marine as a matter of common sense. We will miss his assistance and his counsel."
He was first elected to Congress in 1994 as the representative for what was at the time Ohio's 19th Congressional District. During his tenure, LaTourette served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Appropriations Committee.
He was a strong supporter of the Jones Act, the Maritime Security Program and U.S. cargo preference laws. He was a co-sponsor of the Saving Essential American Sailors Act of 2012, a bill that sought to rescind the 25 percent reduction in the statutory U.S.-flag share of food-aid shipments, which was enacted earlier that year.
LaTourette was an active advocate for the U.S.-flag Great Lakes shipping industry. He took a leading role in the fight to secure needed U.S. Coast Guard icebreaking assets for the Great Lakes Navigation System, as well as in the effort to ensure environmental regulations imposed on Great Lakes shipping were reasonable and uniform in accordance with the domestic industry's vital role as an artery of commerce and the most efficient and environmentally friendly form of cargo transportation available.
In 2000, he received the Great Lakes Legislator of the Year Award from the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force for his consistent and effective support on issues critical to maritime industry and labor on the Lakes.
Frustrated by increasing partisan gridlock on Capitol Hill, and known for his sense of duty in public service, LaTourette announced he would be retiring from Congress in 2012 after serving in office for 18 years.