The American Maritime Partnership (AMP), to which the SIU is affiliated, has announced the latest addition to its American Maritime Heroes campaign: former U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul F. Zukunft (Ret).
According to AMP, “An American Maritime Hero is recognized for his or her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities that have added to the rich history of America as a maritime nation.”
The coalition said Zukunft has demonstrated strong support for the Jones Act and the greater American maritime industry – understanding its vital importance in strengthening our national security.
Zukunft, who retired in 2018, has previously stated: “[Without the Jones Act,] all of our coastwise trade will probably be done by a third nation, namely China, [and] not just coastwise trade, but plying our inland river systems as well.… The next thing that goes away is the [U.S. and state] maritime academies. You don’t need them because we have foreign mariners. We don’t know who they are, but they are foreign mariners plying our waters and our internal waters as well to conduct maritime commerce. Then the next thing that goes is our shipyards and the technology that goes with the shipyards.”
Zukunft joins a group of recognized American Maritime Heroes including the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard, Shipbuilder Andrew Higgins, the late U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minnesota), the World War II U.S. Merchant Mariners and U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.
For more information on the campaign, which will culminate on the 100th anniversary of the Jones Act becoming law, visit https://americanmaritimeheroes.com/
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