HLS 23RS-946 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 4
BY REPRESENTATIVES ORGERON AND WRIGHT
WATERWAYS/NAVIGATION: Expresses affirmation and resolute support for fostering
a strong domestic maritime industry for the nation's economic prosperity
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To express affirmation and resolute support for fostering a strong domestic maritime
3 industry for the nation's security and economic prosperity.
4 WHEREAS, Louisiana's 2,800 miles of navigable waterways and pivotal role as the
5gateway of the Mississippi River system make it central to the nation's maritime
6transportation system and shipbuilding industry; and
7 WHEREAS, the global pandemic, hostilities in Europe, and overall geopolitical
8instability have demonstrated the critical importance of maintaining resilient domestic
9industries and transportation services to the citizens and workforce of Louisiana; and
10 WHEREAS, the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, known as the Jones Act and codified
11in Title 46 of the United States Code, requires that vessels carrying cargo between locations
12in the United States be owned by American companies, crewed by American mariners, and
13built in American shipyards; and
14 WHEREAS, America's ability to project and deploy forces globally, and supply and
15maintain military installations domestically, depends on the civilian fleet of Jones Act
16vessels and mariners; and
17 WHEREAS, mariners aboard Jones Act vessels strengthen America's homeland
18security as added eyes and ears monitoring the nation's 95,000 miles of shoreline and 25,000
19miles of navigable inland waterways; and
20 WHEREAS, Louisiana is home to 70,780 maritime jobs supported by the Jones Act,
21the highest among all states, that generate more than $4.2 billion in worker income; and
Page 1 of 2 HLS 23RS-946 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 4
1 WHEREAS, maritime industry jobs create ladders of opportunity through
2high-paying, family-wage careers that offer significant advancement opportunities without
3requiring advanced formal education; and
4 WHEREAS, the more than 40,000 vessel strong Jones Act fleet supports nearly
5650,000 family-wage jobs and over $154 billion in economic output nationally and $18.2
6billion to the Louisiana economy.
7 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
8affirm its resolute support for the Jones Act and celebrates the 103-year history of the Jones
9Act in fostering a strong domestic maritime industry that is critical to Louisiana's and the
10nation's security and economic prosperity.
11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be immediately
12transmitted to each member of the Louisiana Congressional Delegation.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 4 Original 2023 Regular Session Orgeron
Expresses the support of the legislature for the 103- year history of the Jones Act, which has
created ladders for opportunities globally.
Page 2 of 2