The Transportation Institute (TI) has issued the following news release.
Transportation Institute Congratulates Secretary Chao for ‘American Maritime Hero’ Honor
Honor bestowed as part of national campaign to celebrate America’s rich maritime history in Centennial Year of the U.S. Merchant Marine Act
The Transportation Institute (TI), a leading maritime association which advocates and works for sound national maritime policy in the United States, is joining in the celebration of a new campaign to honor specific Americans for selfless, courageous, and innovative contributions to the nation’s maritime industry and history.
One of the inaugural “American Maritime Heroes,” as announced this week by the American Maritime Partnership (AMP), is the Honorable Elaine Chao, the 18th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The campaign praised Secretary Chao as “the best transportation secretary ever for the U.S. maritime industry” and credited the award to her “knowledge about, experience in, and commitment to U.S. shipping.”
“On behalf of our entire organization, I send my enthusiastic congratulations to Secretary Chao for this wonderful recognition,” said James L. Henry, Chairman and President of the Transportation Institute. “Her tireless support for the U.S.-flag maritime industry and the three pillars that support it – the Jones Act, the Maritime Security Program, and Cargo Preference – has made a profound difference in bolstering America’s economic strength and national security. I have had the pleasure to know the Secretary for nearly 30 years and can proudly attest to her passion for always supporting American mariners and American-flag maritime transportation companies.”
A longtime American civil servant, Secretary Chao was also recognized for her years of dedicated service to the men and women of the maritime industry in previous roles, including: deputy maritime administrator at the U.S. Maritime Administration; chair of the Federal Maritime Commission; deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation; and Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor.
Also honored as inaugural “American Maritime Heroes” in AMP’s announcement were the U.S. merchant mariners of World War II for “their bravery and contribution to the Allied victory nearly 75 years ago.” Over the course of the war, these mariners helped construct and operate thousands of merchant vessels and naval auxiliaries in what the U.S. Maritime Administration calls “the greatest industrial shipbuilding and ship operations effort ever seen.” As the world commemorates the 75th anniversary of D-Day, TI is proud to join AMP and all Americans is saluting the mariners of that generation for their patriotic service that ultimately helped preserve civilization as we know it.
According to AMP, the American Maritime Heroes celebration will culminate on June 5, 2020, the 100th anniversary of the enactment of the U.S. Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones Act, a crucial national and economic security law that ensures the safe transportation of goods and people between two U.S. points via American– built, owned, and crewed vessels.
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