GORE, BUSH BACK MARITIME PROGRAMS

GORE, BUSH BACK MARITIME PROGRAMS    Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George Bush have issued statements supporting the continuation of the nation’s major maritime programs.
   Both presidential candidates support the continuation of the Maritime Security Program as a national defense necessity. They also support the Jones Act and programs to help the U.S. shipbuilding and repair industries.
   They also stressed the need to retain an adequate pool of U.S. seamen to crew U.S. vessels.
   Gore put in a special plug for the Jones Act. “Our U.S.-flag domestic cabotage fleet is one of the most productive and cost-effective modes of transportation, transporting 24 percent of the nation’s cargo for less than 2 percent of America’s freight bill,” he said.
   Bush said he would “vigorously pursue negotiations aimed at ending international practices that disadvantage our (U.S. shipping) industry.”