Posted:
June 29, 2010
The American maritime industry is rallying in opposition to legislation introduced by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) to repeal the Jones Act.
"American Maritime Officers took the unusual step in this past presidential election of endorsing a candidate, and it was not John McCain," said AMO National President Tom Bethel. "This is not something we typically do and I expect AMO members now fully grasp the threat Senator McCain would have posed to the U.S.-flag shipping industry and all who work in it had he won the White House in 2008.
"AMO endorsed Barack Obama due to his stated support for the Jones Act, and his support of other key programs and elements of U.S. maritime policy," Bethel said. "From my experience working Capitol Hill, I expected Senator McCain to move against the U.S. merchant marine and the Jones Act at the first perceived opportunity. Throughout his political career, Senator McCain has taken this position, and his new legislation is rife with outdated and discredited information that had been used to support previous unsuccessful attacks on U.S. cabotage laws.
"AMO stands strong with a united U.S.-flag maritime industry in opposition to the McCain Jones Act repeal bill, S. 3525," Bethel said. "We continue to count on the consistent and generous support of AMO members for the AMO Voluntary Political Action Fund to defend our industry and all of our livelihoods from these misguided and opportunistic political attacks.
"Now, as much as at any time in recent history, it is vital that AMO maintain the ability to get the facts and the truth out on Capitol Hill about the Jones Act and the U.S.-flag maritime industry," he said. "Critics of the U.S. cabotage laws are working to weave false reports about the Jones Act into the media's coverage of the oil spill response in the Gulf of Mexico. They are seizing an opportunity to try to open a profitable door for the foreign and international interests they represent at the expense of American merchant mariners, carriers, shippers and all who work in any capacity in the U.S.-flag maritime industry.
"Political action is and has always been our best line of defense in protecting the jobs of AMO members, and a domestic maritime industry that supports jobs for hundreds of thousands of Americans," Bethel said.
Reporting on the McCain bill, the Maritime Cabotage Task Force noted the legislation is based on the completely false claim that the Jones Act is hindering the Gulf clean-up effort. The Coast Guard and National Incident Command have made it absolutely clear that the Jones Act is not an issue or an obstacle in the Deepwater Horizon response.
The Jones Act only applies within three miles of shore. Foreign skimmers, along with American skimmers, are already at work beyond three miles. The Deepwater Horizon spill is occurring 50 miles from shore. In addition, the Coast Guard has already issued a determination allowing the deployment of foreign skimmers within three miles due to the need for unprecedented numbers of skimmers.
"While there is a critical shortage of supplies like skimmers and boom, scores of large American vessels are standing by in the Gulf ready to deploy these supplies and equipment as they become available," the task force stated. "Specialized foreign oil spill response vessels are welcome and already working -- they either do not need a Jones Act waiver, or can get one without delay.
"The McCain bill is based on studies that are outdated and widely discredited," the task force reported. "Long ago, the U.S. Government Accountability Office in response to a request from Senator McCain reviewed those same studies and advised the Senator that they failed to accurately assess the costs and benefits of the Jones Act."
The complete statement from the Maritime Cabotage Task Force is available online at: www.mctf.com.
U.S. maritime industry rallies in support of Jones Act as Sen. McCain seeks repeal of cornerstone cabotage law
The American maritime industry is rallying in opposition to legislation introduced by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) to repeal the Jones Act.
"American Maritime Officers took the unusual step in this past presidential election of endorsing a candidate, and it was not John McCain," said AMO National President Tom Bethel. "This is not something we typically do and I expect AMO members now fully grasp the threat Senator McCain would have posed to the U.S.-flag shipping industry and all who work in it had he won the White House in 2008.
"AMO endorsed Barack Obama due to his stated support for the Jones Act, and his support of other key programs and elements of U.S. maritime policy," Bethel said. "From my experience working Capitol Hill, I expected Senator McCain to move against the U.S. merchant marine and the Jones Act at the first perceived opportunity. Throughout his political career, Senator McCain has taken this position, and his new legislation is rife with outdated and discredited information that had been used to support previous unsuccessful attacks on U.S. cabotage laws.
"AMO stands strong with a united U.S.-flag maritime industry in opposition to the McCain Jones Act repeal bill, S. 3525," Bethel said. "We continue to count on the consistent and generous support of AMO members for the AMO Voluntary Political Action Fund to defend our industry and all of our livelihoods from these misguided and opportunistic political attacks.
"Now, as much as at any time in recent history, it is vital that AMO maintain the ability to get the facts and the truth out on Capitol Hill about the Jones Act and the U.S.-flag maritime industry," he said. "Critics of the U.S. cabotage laws are working to weave false reports about the Jones Act into the media's coverage of the oil spill response in the Gulf of Mexico. They are seizing an opportunity to try to open a profitable door for the foreign and international interests they represent at the expense of American merchant mariners, carriers, shippers and all who work in any capacity in the U.S.-flag maritime industry.
"Political action is and has always been our best line of defense in protecting the jobs of AMO members, and a domestic maritime industry that supports jobs for hundreds of thousands of Americans," Bethel said.
Reporting on the McCain bill, the Maritime Cabotage Task Force noted the legislation is based on the completely false claim that the Jones Act is hindering the Gulf clean-up effort. The Coast Guard and National Incident Command have made it absolutely clear that the Jones Act is not an issue or an obstacle in the Deepwater Horizon response.
The Jones Act only applies within three miles of shore. Foreign skimmers, along with American skimmers, are already at work beyond three miles. The Deepwater Horizon spill is occurring 50 miles from shore. In addition, the Coast Guard has already issued a determination allowing the deployment of foreign skimmers within three miles due to the need for unprecedented numbers of skimmers.
"While there is a critical shortage of supplies like skimmers and boom, scores of large American vessels are standing by in the Gulf ready to deploy these supplies and equipment as they become available," the task force stated. "Specialized foreign oil spill response vessels are welcome and already working -- they either do not need a Jones Act waiver, or can get one without delay.
"The McCain bill is based on studies that are outdated and widely discredited," the task force reported. "Long ago, the U.S. Government Accountability Office in response to a request from Senator McCain reviewed those same studies and advised the Senator that they failed to accurately assess the costs and benefits of the Jones Act."
The complete statement from the Maritime Cabotage Task Force is available online at: www.mctf.com.