Shipping goods between U.S. ports
As the debate over the value of the Jones Act continues, distractors says that the citizens of non-contiguous states like Alaska, Puerto Rico and Alaska are unfairly impacted by the law. This is not so, says Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) who took the floor of the Senate last week to fully support U.S. cabotage of the Jones Act.
Excerpts from Senator Hirono’s speech are below:
“The Jones Act requires that maritime vessels engaged in shipping goods between U.S. ports must meet three requirements: They must be built in the United States, at least 75 percent owned by United States citizens, and operated by United States citizens. The Jones Act helps to shore up our national security by providing reliable sealift in times of war. It ensures our ongoing viability as an ocean power by protecting American shipbuilders.
As a result, the Jones Act provides solid, well-paying jobs for nearly half a million Americans from Virginia to Hawaii.
In short, the Jones Act promotes national security and American job creation. Therefore, I am unclear why some of my colleagues are opposed to this common-sense law.
I don’t simply say this as a member from an island state where we depend on the reliability offered by American shippers for fresh food, energy, and other everyday goods. But I say this as a Senator that cares deeply about supporting our strong and growing middle class and creating American jobs.
Senator McCain’s amendment would specifically knock out the Jones Act provision that requires U.S. flagged ships be built in the United States jeopardizing good-paying, middle class jobs. To me, that’s reason enough to oppose this amendment.