Printer Friendly Page

Seapower Subcommittee Chair Stresses Need for Jones Act

September 2008

U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), chairman of the Seapower Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, recently stressed his ongoing support for the Jones Act. Addressing the Propeller Club of the United States during a July 22 luncheon in Washington, D.C., Rep. Taylor stated, “I am a fanatic when it comes to the Jones Act. The privilege of operating between American ports [rightly comes with the requirement that ships used in the trade] are American-owned, flagged, and crewed vessels. It’s that simple.” Rep. Taylor, who also serves on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, pointed out that approximately 40 other countries have laws similar to the Jones Act. Long a crucial component when it comes to helping maintain a viable U.S. Merchant Marine, the Jones Act stipulates that vessels transporting cargo from one domestic port to another (as Rep. Taylor explained) must fly the U.S. flag and carry American crews. The law also specifies that such ships must be built in the U.S. and owned by American companies. Wrapping up his comments on the Jones Act, Rep. Taylor cautioned that waivers are “never an end-all,” and warned that such waivers may turn out to be the “camel’s nose under the tent.” He concluded that America cannot have a strong shipbuilding and repair base without strict enforcement of the Jones Act. The congressman also emphasized the need to maintain a U.S. Navy fleet consisting of at least 313 vessels (as articulated by high-ranking Navy officers). He said he wants to help ensure that our troops are supported by American-flag ships with American crews. Rep. Taylor also reiterated his support for the Title XI Shipbuilding Loan Guarantee Program. He said that despite some struggles, “I still believe Title XI is a good program, and I will do what I can to encourage people to buy American and build American…. It’s like any other government program: It’s going to be as good or bad as the people running it want it to be.”