March 2009 - Issue 1

MCTF Broadens Outreach Efforts
The Maritime Cabotage Task Force, the national organization of supporters of U.S. cabotage laws, including the Jones Act, is broadening its outreach. As part of an enhanced and expanded communications efforts, it will issue its Jones Act Report via email on at least a quarterly basis, with special editions for breaking news.

The goal is to keep MCTF members up-to-date on MCTF activities in Washington and legislative and regulatory developments impacting the industry.

For example, on February 17, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (also known as the “stimulus” bill), which included several maritime-related provisions, including:

• $100 million for grants to small shipyards;
• $60 million for ferry & ferry terminal projects; and
• $150 million in new port security grants.

Jones Act Abolishment Raised at Conference
At the Trans-Pacific Maritime Conference (March 1-3), Rob Quartel, a long-time critic of the Jones Act and a former Federal Maritime Commissioner, criticized the Jones Act, saying it should be abolished. Addressing a Legends of Transportation session at the conference, he said that the constraints of the Jones Act have “utterly destroyed our domestic shipping.”

Membership Update
The MCTF has begun updating its membership list. You can help by passing this newsletter along to coworkers or people that would be interested in the Jones Act Report.

If you’ve received this newsletter from a friend or coworker, you may subscribe directly by emailing: mctf@mctf.com.

If you’d like information sent to you at another email address, please email mctf@mctf.com with your old and new emails and your information will be updated.

Lastly, if you’d like to unsubscribe, please send an email to unsubscribe@mctf.com or click on the link at the bottom of this email.

For press inquires, please contact Glen Nekvasil (info@mctf.com).  For other questions or to request more information, please contact Mark Ruge (mark.ruge@klgates.com) or Yvette Wissmann (yvette.wissmann@klgates.com), K&L Gates, counsel to the Maritime Cabotage Task Force.