Presidential candidates offer support for Jones Act

Presidential candidates offer support for Jones Act A maritime industry coalition survey of Democratic and Republican hopefuls for the 2008 presidential race has elicited support for the Jones Act from seven candidates.
   The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, working as a member of the Maritime Cabotage Task Force, recently circulated a questionnaire to all the current presidential candidates. The survey included a question about the Jones Act, which focused on the build elements of the act. However most of the respondents chose to address the act in general.
   The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, more commonly known as the Jones Act after original bill sponsor Sen. Wesley Jones of Washington, restricts the carriage of goods or passengers between United States ports to U.S. built and flagged vessels. In addition, at least 75 percent of the crewmembers must be U.S. citizens. Moreover foreign repair work of U.S.-flagged vessels’ hull and superstructure is limited to 10 percent foreign-built steel weight. This restriction largely prevents U.S. ships from being refurbished at overseas shipyards.
   To date, the following candidates — listed in alphabetic order and followed by their comments — have responded to the MCTF/IBB survey:
   Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del.: 'The Jones Act is a century old act that has served America's strategic defense needs well. It is crucial that we maintain domestic capacity — particularly in industries that are important to our national security.'
   Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY.: 'I am strongly committed to using American products as a way of spurring the creation of new jobs in this country. When we use American products in our coastal vessels, we spur more jobs for hardworking Americans. I oppose efforts to weaken the Jones Act.'
   Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn.: 'I am a strong supporter of the principles of the Jones Act.'
   Former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.: 'For decades the Jones Act has ensured the construction and operation of a merchant marine fleet capable of meeting our nation's commercial and military needs while simultaneously creating a competitive U.S. shipbuilding industry and thousands of good-paying American jobs.'
   Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio: 'As a member of the House, I have signed on as a cosponsor of House Continuing Resolution 65, a statement of full support for the Jones Act and related statutes.'
   Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.: 'I supported the reauthorization of the Jones Act ' Maintaining the American merchant marine fleet is vital to our economy and national security. I would oppose any move to undermine this act.'
   Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M.: 'The Jones Act plays a valuable role in sustaining American projects for American workers ' Without the Jones Act ' the U.S. share of global commercial shipbuilding, which at one point had reached zero percent, would return to that level.'
   Last year in a Labor Day speech at the Seafarers International Union's Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training & Education in Piney Point, Md., President Bush offered up remarks supporting the Jones Act. Bush said, ' ' it's important for presidents to embrace the Jones Act. I have ' supported the Jones Act, and will continue to do so as the president.'