A longtime backer of the U.S. maritime industry recently received a major award.
U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) on June 13 accepted the International Propeller Club’s 39th annual Salute to Congress award. SIU President David Heindel, Executive Vice President Augie Tellez, Vice President Contracts George Tricker and Political and Legislative Director Brian Schoeneman represented the union at the reception and dinner, which took place just outside the nation’s capital in Arlington, Virginia.
Cantwell has served in the Senate since 2001 and is the first woman to chair the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.
With more than 200 labor, industry and government guests in attendance, International Propeller Club President Jim Patti said Cantwell “is in every sense a tireless advocate, a relentless fighter and an unapologetic supporter of a strong U.S.-flag maritime industry.”
During her brief remarks, Cantwell recapped various maritime-related legislative wins that have been secured in the last year. The National Defense Authorization Act proved especially vital for the industry, she said.
The senator, whose father served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, reiterated her support for the Maritime Security Program, the Tanker Security Program, and other initiatives and laws that back a strong U.S.-flag fleet along with U.S. mariners.
“The challenges are, we need to continue to build that (maritime) workforce and diversify it so we have a strong maritime community,” Cantwell told the audience. “We need to make sure we have strong shipyards to build the next generation of vessels…. We need to make sure that we’re planning for the latest and greatest in global technologies.”
She thanked shipboard and shore-side maritime unions “for the sacrifices they made to keep our economy going (during the pandemic). It was true patriotism. Thank you very much for that tireless determination.”
She also stressed the need to increase commercial shipbuilding, then concluded, “You can’t have a U.S. economy without the Jones Act.”
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