ENROLLED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 4
BY REPRESENTATIVES ORGERON, AMEDEE, EDMONSTON, FIRMENT,
GADBERRY, KNOX, MIGUEZ, MOORE, SCHAMERHORN, SEL DERS, AND
WRIGHT
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To express affirmation and resolute support for fostering a strong domestic maritime
industry for the nation's security and economic prosperity.
WHEREAS, Louisiana's 2,800 miles of navigable waterways and pivotal role as the
gateway of the Mississippi River system make it central to the nation's maritime
transportation system and shipbuilding industry; and
WHEREAS, the global pandemic, hostilities in Europe, and overall geopolitical
instability have demonstrated the critical importance of maintaining resilient domestic
industries and transportation services to the citizens and workforce of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, known as the Jones Act and codified
in Title 46 of the United States Code, requires that vessels carrying cargo between locations
in the United States be owned by American companies, crewed by American mariners, and
built in American shipyards; and
WHEREAS, America's ability to project and deploy forces globally, and supply and
maintain military installations domestically, depends on the civilian fleet of Jones Act
vessels and mariners; and
WHEREAS, mariners aboard Jones Act vessels strengthen America's homeland
security as added eyes and ears monitoring the nation's 95,000 miles of shoreline and 25,000
miles of navigable inland waterways; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana is home to 70,780 maritime jobs supported by the Jones Act,
the highest among all states, that generate more than $4.2 billion in worker income; and
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WHEREAS, maritime industry jobs create ladders of opportunity through
high-paying, family-wage careers that offer significant advancement opportunities without
requiring advanced formal education; and
WHEREAS, the more than 40,000 vessel strong Jones Act fleet supports nearly
650,000 family-wage jobs and over $154 billion in economic output nationally and $18.2
billion to the Louisiana economy.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
affirm its resolute support for the Jones Act and celebrates the 103-year history of the Jones
Act in fostering a strong domestic maritime industry that is critical to Louisiana's and the
nation's security and economic prosperity.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be immediately
transmitted to each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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