In honor of Maritime Day (May 22), Albert Gore, Jr., Vice President of the United States, issued a statement praising America's Merchant Marine and declaring the Jones Act the "foundation of our American maritime industry and an essential part of the fabric of our nation's economic and national security." To read the Vice President's statement, click here.
Lake Carriers' Association and the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force promptly sent letters of thanks to the Vice President. The text of those letters follows:
May 24, 2000
The Honorable Albert Gore
Vice President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Vice President Gore:
Lake Carriers' Association represents 10 American corporations operating 58 U.S.-Flag vessels exclusively on the Great
Lakes. During a typical navigation season, our members and other U.S.-Flag Lakes lines will move upwards of 125 million
tons of dry- and liquid-bulk cargos. The cargos we carry - iron ore, coal, stone… - drive the Great Lakes economy and thus
propel America's industrial engine.
On behalf of the members of Lake Carriers' Association, I wish to thank you for your recent reaffirmation of your support for
the Jones Act. In your National Maritime Day statement, you declared the Jones Act "the foundation of our American
maritime industry and an essential part of the fabric of our nation's economic and national security." How true! By guaranteeing
a level playing field, both among U.S.-Flag carriers and with other modes of transportation, the Jones Act has enabled our
members to assemble what is without question the world's largest fleet of self-unloading vessels. No other nation, not even
those that lavishly subsidize their shipbuilding industry, can boast a fleet that even begins to equal the vessels that fly the
American flag on the Great Lakes.
The size of the Lakes Jones Act fleet is of little importance if those vessels do not serve their customers well. With the Jones Act providing an environment conducive to investment in the most modern technologies, our members can haul a ton of iron ore or coal the length of the Lakes for roughly the cost of a ticket to a first-run movie. Our environment benefits too, as the superefficient powerplants on our vessels burn less fuel and produce fewer emissions than other modes of transportation.
Again, thank you for your continued support for the Jones Act. While the principles of this law date back almost to our nation's founding, they remain every bit as valid as we begin our voyage through the 21st century.
Sincerely,
George J. Ryan
President
May 26, 2000
The Honorable Albert Gore
Vice President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Vice President Gore:
Since its founding in 1992, the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force has blossomed into the largest coalition ever to represent
the Great Lakes shipping industry. Our membership spans the eight Great Lakes states and represents both labor and
management drawn from ship operators, shipboard unions, longshoremen unions, shipyards, terminal operators….
We are writing to thank you for your National Maritime Day statement in which you declared the Jones Act "the foundation of
our American maritime industry and an essential part of the fabric of our nation's economic and national security." Since Day
One, it has been GLMTF's unshakable belief that the Jones Act and other U.S. Cabotage laws are the keystone maritime
policy of our nation and we are pleased that you have reaffirmed your support for this vital law.
The benefits of the Jones Act are evident everywhere you look on the Great Lakes. U.S.-owned, -built and -crewed
freighters, some longer than modern-day aircraft carriers, deliver as much as 70,000 tons of iron ore or coal each trip. There
are no more efficient vessels in the world. Their American-citizen owners and crews proudly comply with the world's safety
and operational standards so they can safeguard the environment and the 25 million North Americans who draw their drinking
water from the Great Lakes. When winter closes the Lakes (briefly for sure), American shipyard workers hustle to make the
technological improvements that will provide customers even better service next season. All these benefits accrue without any
cost to the American taxpayer - Jones Act vessels receive not one penny in operating subsidies.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE JONES ACT.
Sincerely,
James J. Driscoll, President
Daniel L. Smith, First Vice President - Positions & Resolutions
George J. Ryan, Second Vice President - Membership
John D. Baker, Third Vice President - Government Relations