When Congress recessed on October 21, not one proposed change to our Nation's Cabotage laws had been enacted. In fact, no bill to repeal one or all three elements of Cabotage - U.S. ownership, U.S. construction, and U.S. crews - ever even made it out of Committee. The Maritime Cabotage Task Force, the national organization to defend the Jones Act (of which LCA is a guiding member) has issued a wrap-up report on Cabotage in the 105th Congress. LCA President George J. Ryan added his thanks to the 105th Congress and other supporters of our Cabotage laws: "The Great Lakes delegation in Washington made its position on the Jones Act quite clear - Don't change the Jones Act! In fact, 47 members of the House representing Great Lakes districts signed House Concurrent Resolution 65, a statement of full support for the law. (In total, 242 members of the House, well over a majority, endorsed the resolution.) When the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on a bill to change the build requirement of the Jones Act, its one Lakes member, Michigan Senator Spencer Abraham, wrote Chairman McCain in support of the Lakes Jones Act fleet. To everyone in Congress, the Administration and the Department of Defense who refused to be mislead by the falsehoods bandied about by the Jones Act "Reform" Coalition, my sincere thanks and pledge that the Lakes Jones Act fleet will continue to provide the best possible service as long as our Cabotage laws remain the unshakeable foundation of U.S. maritime policy."