Ohio Congressman James A. Traficant, Jr. has written the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force (of which LCA is a member) expressing his support for the Jones Act. In a letter to Task Force President Patrick O'Hern (Vice President of Bay Shipbuilding Company of Sturgeon Bay, Wis.), the Congressman writes, " As a long-time supporter of the Jones Act, I share your concern over misinformation that has been disseminated to Members of Congress about the Jones Act and U.S. Cabotage laws. The Jones Act has been, and continues to be, an excellent law that has greatly benefitted American workers and the U.S. economy. As long as our foreign competitors continue to heavily subsidize their maritime fleets, and as long as foreign crews are paid slave wages, the Congress must continue to do whatever it can to protect American jobs and American security. The Jones Act and U.S. Cabotage laws continue to make good sense, and continue to make the United States the number one maritime nation in the world.
Needless to say, as a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I will continue to fight against any legislation that weakens or compromises the Jones Act...