[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 104 (Thursday, June 4, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E519]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      JONES ACT 100TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 4, 2020

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, tomorrow June 5 marks the 100th 
anniversary of the Jones Act, our nation's federal law guaranteeing a 
fleet of US-built, flagged, crewed, and owned vessels ready to serve 
the American people.
  The current coronavirus global pandemic has reminded us all the 
critical importance of this foundational federal law and having a 
vibrant US-flagged maritime industry. The global maritime trade ground 
to a halt due to quarantine, and countries like China ordered their 
government-sponsored enterprises to stop all exports of critical 
medicine and medical supplies, including personal protective equipment 
for healthcare workers and first responders.
  The Jones Act ensures that our nation can remain self-reliant during 
peace time and times of conflict. In California alone, the US-flagged 
maritime industry supports more than $12.2 billion annually in economic 
impact related to the American domestic shipping industry and over 
51,000 good-paying jobs. Nationally, the domestic maritime industry 
supports 648,220 American jobs with approximately 40,000 vessels in the 
American domestic fleet.
  Madam Speaker, most major developed countries including the European 
Union have cabotage laws like the Jones Act. Congress must continue to 
support our nation's maritime workforce by upholding the Jones Act and 
opposing deeply misguided efforts to undermine it. As a member of both 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on 
Armed Services, I plan to continue to do just that.
  I hope all members of Congress will join me in that important work. 
In closing, I wish to mark this important milestone for the Jones Act 
by thanking the thousands of Americans working in our nation's maritime 
industry. I thank them for their invaluable work, day in, day out.