McCain’s job-killing plan to repeal Jones Act FAILS

UPDATE (Jan. 30, 2015) at AFL-CIO Now — McCain fails to move Jone Act repeal — A move by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) to scuttle the nation’s key maritime law — the Jones Act — which put in jeopardy 400,000 shipbuilding, seafaring and supply chain jobs in the maritime industry, failed last week. McCain had proposed an amendment to the XL pipeline bill to repeal the Jones Act, which requires that goods shipped between U.S. ports are carried by U.S.-built, flagged, crewed and owned ships. But there was vocal opposition from the shipping industry, maritime unions, manufacturers and national defense experts, and McCain failed to garner enough support to bring his amendment to a vote.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 26, 2015) — While many lawmakers are focusing on creating, maintaining and even bringing back jobs to the United States, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is pushing legislation that threatens 400,000 U.S. shipbuilding, seafaring and supply chain jobs in the maritime industry.

McCain has offered an amendment to the Keystone XL pipeline bill to repeal the Jones Act, which requires that goods shipped between U.S. ports are carried by U.S.-built, flagged, crewed and owned ships.

In a guest column that appeared in The Hill, Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) says McCain’s amendment “would undermine our domestic maritime industry and threaten the more than 400,000 jobs it supports nationwide.”

After years of stagnation, the American maritime industry is investing a record amount in new ship construction with American shipyards building many modern, state-of-the-art vessels. The production of these vessels provides stable, high-paying manufacturing jobs for America’s workers and contributes $36 billion to gross domestic product. This amendment would stifle that progress and the associated economic benefits.

Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.) spoke out against the McCain proposal on the House floor last Thursday, saying, “In the Pacific Northwest, we understand the importance of the Jones Act. Why would Congress kill good American jobs?”

Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash) also issued a statement in opposition to the McCain plan.

Along with the economic damage, McCain’s amendment threatens national security, according to U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft.

That for me is a real consequence…it will put our entire U.S. [merchant] fleet in jeopardy…and then in time of crisis who are we going to get to carry out or logistics….Very difficult if we don’t have U.S.-flagged ships.

If the Jones Act is repealed, says Edward Wytkind, president of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department:

The only parties that stand to benefit from this amendment are heavily subsidized foreign shipping competitors who are not subject to U.S. laws, regulations, environmental standards and taxes.

TAKE A STAND!  Click here to send a letter to your senators and representative urging them to oppose McCain’s amendment to repeal the Jones Act. Read more from the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department on the growing opposition to the McCain amendment. ALSO, a Louisiana mariner has posted a “We the People” petition on WhiteHouse.gov in support of the Jones Act and against the McCain amendment. If the petition gets 100,000 signatures, White House staff will review it, ensure its sent to the appropriate policy experts and issue an official response. Click here to sign the petition.

AFL-CIO Now contributed to this report.