Members of Congress spoke out in favor of America’s freight cabotage law during a hearing earlier this week.
U.S. Reps. Joe Courtney (D-Connecticut), Rob Wittman (R-Virginia) and Elaine Luria (D-Virginia) commented during a June 23 hearing of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces. The occasion was a markup of the Fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.
Courtney, chair of the subcommittee, recalled an earlier hearing during which Maritime Administrator Mark Buzby and U.S. Transportation Command Deputy Commander Dee Mewbourne “reiterated strongly the fact that the Jones Act is really critical to making sure that we have that auxiliary fleet, sealift fleet.”
Luria stated, “We all know the value of the Jones Act on our national security, on our U.S.-Flag Merchant Fleet and in protecting American jobs for American mariners…. I want to thank Mr. Courtney for his efforts and know that this committee stands behind our American Merchant Fleet.”
Wittman said, “We understand how incredibly important [the Jones Act] is to U.S. maritime interests.”
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