H. CON. RES. 65

105th CONGRESS
1st Session

Expressing the sense of the Congress that section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920, popularly known as the Jones Act, and related statutes are critically important components of our Nation's economic and military security and should be fully and strongly supported.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 23, 1997

Mr. MOAKLEY (for himself, Mr. SOLOMON, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. OBEY, Mr. MURTHA, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. HARMAN, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. CUNNINGHAM, Mr. DELLUMS, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mr. CLEMENT, Mr. LIVINGSTON, Mr. BORSKI, and Mr. HUNTER) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on National Security

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas a privately owned United States-flag merchant fleet and maritime industry are vital to the economic, military, and international political security of the United States;

Whereas it is essential for the Congress to reaffirm its support for those programs and policies that have successfully developed and maintained a strong, competitive, and economically viable United States-flag merchant marine, including section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 (46 App. U.S.C. 883), popularly known as the Jones Act, which reserves the carriage of America's waterborne domestic commerce to privately owned United States-flag commercial vessels that are built and repaired in United States shipyards and owned and crewed by United States citizens, and similar statutes pertaining to the domestic dredging, fishing, salvage, and towing industries;

Whereas these statutes have fostered the growth of a highly productive and diverse fleet of large, technologically advanced, and fuel-efficient vessels, that is capable of transporting in a timely, economical, and responsive manner all types of United States domestic commerce and that carries approximately 21 percent of the freight moved in the domestic transportation market while accounting for less than 2 percent of domestic expenditures for freight transportation;

Whereas the United States-flag domestic merchant fleet has more than twice the number of large vessels than in 1965 and productivity of the fleet over the past 30 years has more than tripled the fleet's ability to serve American shippers and consumers;

Whereas this increased growth and gains in productivity are due largely to the increased capital investments by private industry in the fleet and to the cooperative relationship that exists between American vessel operators and their American citizen crews;

Whereas more than 40 of America's trading partners have comparable laws and restrictions to limit access to their domestic commerce to their national flag vessels in order to better enhance and support their own economic and military security;

Whereas the Jones Act and related statutes are necessary to prevent America's domestic economy from being dominated and controlled by foreign shipping interests which today operate in international commerce outside the scope of United States Government laws and regulations, including tax obligations, that apply to all types of United States-flag vessels and their crews, to the entire domestic transportation infrastructure, and to all other industries located in the United States.

Whereas the Jones Act and related statutes, along with the comparable requirements applicable to America's aviation, rail, and trucking industries, play a vital role in ensuring that America's shippers and consumers continue to have a reliable, efficient, and competitively balanced domestic transportation system that uses equipment built to American standards and operated by trained American citizen workers;

Whereas allowing foreign flag vessels and foreign crews to operate in America's domestic trades will threaten the economic viability of America's transportation system, which operates in compliance with all United States Government laws and regulations, including tax obligations;

Whereas the Jones Act and related statutes and the construction and operation of the privately owned United States-flag domestic fleet contribute significantly to the national economy, generating approximately $300,000,000 annually in corporate tax revenues for the Federal Treasury, and another $55,000,000 annually in State tax revenues, all of which would be lost if foreign vessels were allowed to enter America's domestic trades;

Whereas Americans working aboard United States-flag domestic vessels and in related domestic industries pay $1,100,000,000 annually in Federal income taxes and another $272,000,000 in State income taxes, revenue which will be lost if foreign vessels and foreign crews are allowed to enter America's domestic trades;

Whereas the domestic maritime industry provides a significant source of employment to maintain a cadre of well trained, loyal American citizen merchant mariners ready and able to respond, as always, to our Nation's call in time of war or other emergency; and

Whereas the Jones Act and related statutes are necessary because the construction and repair of the United States-flag domestic merchant fleet provides the primary source of commercial shipbuilding opportunities for American shipyards and their workforce, helping to maintain the shipyard mobilization base necessary to America's national security: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 (46 App. U.S.C. 883), popularly known as the Jones Act, and related statutes are critically important components of our Nation's economic and military security and should be fully and strongly supported.

H.CON.RES.65

Title: Expressing the sense of the Congress that section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920, popularly known as the Jones Act, and related statutes are critically important components of our Nation's economic and military security and should be fully and strongly supported.

Sponsor: Rep Moakley, John Joseph [MA-9] (introduced 4/23/1997) Cosponsors (244) Latest Major Action: 4/23/1997 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on National Security.

COSPONSORS(244), ALPHABETICAL

Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1]
Rep Ackerman, Gary L. [NY-5]
Rep Aderholt, Robert B. [AL-4]
Rep Allen, Thomas H. [ME-1]
Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1]
Rep Baker, Richard H. [LA-6]
Rep Barcia, James A. [MI-5]
Rep Bateman, Herbert H. [VA-1]
Rep Bentsen, Ken [TX-25]
Rep Bilbray, Brian P. [CA-49]
Rep Bilirakis, Michael [FL-9]
Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2]
Rep Blagojevich, Rod R. [IL-5]
Rep Bliley, Tom [VA-7]
Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3]
Rep Boehlert, Sherwood [NY-23]
Rep Bonior, David E. [MI-10]
Rep Borski, Robert A. [PA-3]
Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3]
Rep Brown, George E., Jr. [CA-42]
Rep Brown, Sherrod [OH-13]
Rep Bunning, Jim [KY-4]
Rep Burr, Richard [NC-5]
Rep Callahan, Sonny [AL-1]
Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-43]
Rep Capps, Lois [CA-22]
Rep Capps, Walter [CA-22]
Rep Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD-3]
Rep Carson, Julia [IN-10]
Rep Chambliss, Saxby [GA-8]
Rep Christian-Green, Donna M. [VI]
Rep Clay, William (Bill) [MO-1]
Rep Clayton, Eva M. [NC-1]
Rep Clement, Bob [TN-5]
Rep Clyburn, James E. [SC-6]
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14]
Rep Cooksey, John [LA-5]
Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12]
Rep Coyne, William J. [PA-14]
Rep Cramer, Robert E. (Bud), Jr. [AL-5]
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7]
Rep Cunningham, Randy (Duke) [CA-51]
Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7]
Rep Davis, Thomas M. [VA-11]
Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4]
Rep DeGette, Diana [CO-1]
Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10]
Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3]
Rep Dellums, Ronald V. [CA-9]
Rep Deutsch, Peter [FL-20]
Rep Diaz-Balart, Lincoln [FL-21]
Rep Dicks, Norman D. [WA-6]
Rep Dingell, John D. [MI-16]
Rep Dixon, Julian C. [CA-32]
Rep Doolittle, John T. [CA-4]
Rep Duncan, John J., Jr. [TN-2]
Rep Dunn, Jennifer [WA-8]
Rep Ehrlich, Robert L., Jr. [MD-2]
Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17]
Rep English, Phil [PA-21]
Rep Ensign, John [NV-1]
Rep Evans, Lane [IL-17]
Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17]
Rep Fattah, Chaka [PA-2]
Rep Fazio, Vic [CA-3]
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-50]
Rep Flake, Floyd H. [NY-6]
Rep Forbes, Michael P. [NY-1]
Rep Ford, Harold E., Jr. [TN-9]
Rep Fossella, Vito [NY-13]
Rep Fowler, Tillie [FL-4]
Rep Fox, Jon D. [PA-13]
Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4]
Rep Franks, Bob [NJ-7]
Rep Frelinghuysen, Rodney P. [NJ-11]
Rep Frost, Martin [TX-24]
Rep Furse, Elizabeth [OR-1]
Rep Gallegly, Elton [CA-23]
Rep Gejdenson, Sam [CT-2]
Rep Gephardt, Richard A. [MO-3]
Rep Gibbons, Jim [NV-2]
Rep Gillmor, Paul E. [OH-5]
Rep Gilman, Benjamin A. [NY-20]
Rep Green, Gene [TX-29]
Rep Hamilton, Lee H. [IN-9]
Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36]
Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23]
Rep Hefley, Joel [CO-5]
Rep Herger, Wally [CA-2]
Rep Hilliard, Earl F. [AL-7]
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-26]
Rep Holden, Tim [PA-6]
Rep Hooley, Darlene [OR-5]
Rep Houghton, Amo [NY-31]
Rep Hoyer, Steny H. [MD-5]
Rep Hunter, Duncan [CA-52]

Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2]
Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18]
Rep Jefferson, William J. [LA-2]
Rep Jenkins, William L. [TN-1]
Rep John, Christopher [LA-7]
Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30]
Rep Johnson, Jay W. [WI-8]
Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9]
Rep Kelly, Sue W. [NY-19]
Rep Kennedy, Joseph P., II [MA-8]
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1]
Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-9]
Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-15]
Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3]
Rep Kleczka, Gerald D. [WI-4]
Rep Klink, Ron [PA-4]
Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [OH-10]
Rep LaFalce, John J. [NY-29]
Rep Lampson, Nick [TX-9]
Rep Lantos, Tom [CA-12]
Rep LaTourette, Steve C. [OH-19]
Rep Lazio, Rick [NY-2]
Rep Levin, Sander M. [MI-12]
Rep Lewis, Jerry [CA-40]
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5]
Rep Lewis, Ron [KY-2]
Rep Lipinski, William O. [IL-3]
Rep Livingston, Bob [LA-1]
Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2]
Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16]
Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18]
Rep Luther, Bill [MN-6]
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14]
Rep Maloney, James H. [CT-5]
Rep Manton, Thomas J. [NY-7]
Rep Martinez, Matthew G. [CA-31]
Rep Mascara, Frank [PA-20]
Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4]
Rep McCarthy, Karen [MO-5]
Rep McCrery, Jim [LA-4]
Rep McDade, Joseph M. [PA-10]
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7]
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3]
Rep McHale, Paul [PA-15]
Rep McHugh, John M. [NY-24]
Rep McInnis, Scott [CO-3]
Rep McKinney, Cynthia A. [GA-4]
Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21]
Rep Meek, Carrie P. [FL-17]
Rep Menendez, Robert [NJ-13]
Rep Metcalf, Jack [WA-2]
Rep Mica, John L. [FL-7]
Rep Millender-McDonald, Juanita [CA-37]
Rep Miller, George [CA-7]
Rep Mink, Patsy T. [HI-2]
Rep Molinari, Susan [NY-13]
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8]
Rep Morella, Constance A. [MD-8]
Rep Murtha, John P. [PA-12]
Rep Myrick, Sue [NC-9]
Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8]
Rep Neal, Richard E. [MA-2]
Rep Nethercutt, George R., Jr. [WA-5]
Rep Oberstar, James L. [MN-8]
Rep Obey, David R. [WI-7]
Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1]
Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27]
Rep Owens, Major R. [NY-11]
Rep Packard, Ron [CA-48]
Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. [NJ-6]
Rep Pappas, Michael [NJ-12]
Rep Parker, Mike [MS-4]
Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [NJ-8]
Rep Pastor, Ed [AZ-2]
Rep Paxon, Bill [NY-27]
Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10]
Rep Pelosi, Nancy [CA-8]
Rep Pickering, Charles W. (Chip) [MS-3]
Rep Pickett, Owen B. [VA-2]
Rep Price, David E. [NC-4]
Rep Quinn, Jack [NY-30]
Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3]
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15]
Rep Riggs, Frank [CA-1]
Rep Riley, Bob [AL-3]
Rep Rivers, Lynn N. [MI-13]
Rep Rohrabacher, Dana [CA-45]
Rep Romero-Barcelo, Carlos A. [PR]
Rep Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [FL-18]
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9]
Rep Roukema, Marge [NJ-5]
Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1]
Rep Sabo, Martin Olav [MN-5]
Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-46]
Rep Sanders, Bernard [VT]

H. CON. RES. 65

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 23, 1997

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

H.CON.RES.65

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 23, 1997