House, panel extol Jones Act

WASHINGTON - The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing Jan. 17 on “The State of the U.S. Flag Maritime Industry” during which congressional and maritime leaders stressed the importance of the Jones Act. The group included, U.S. Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.); Mark H. Buzby, administrator of the Maritime Administration; Matt Woodruff, president of the American Maritime Partnership; Matthew Paxton, president of the Shipbuilders Council of America; and Aaron Smith, president/CEO of the Offshore Marine Service Association. The committee and those testifying expressed bipartisan support for the Jones Act and enforcement of the law. Rep. Graves noted the need to maintain a strong domestic maritime industry, and the Jones Act’s importance. “We want to keep the Jones Act in place and make sure that we've got American vessels, make sure we're doing our job, make sure it's helping our economy, and make sure it's helping our national security.” Yet, he countered those remarks by saying the Jones Act “isn't just about employment and the economy, it's about national security implications” and that should remain on the “front burner.” (Source: Marine Link 01/19/18)