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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4
Whereas, Missouri's access to over 1,000 miles of the
Missouri and Mississippi Rivers and the Port o f Metropolitan
St. Louis' position as the second largest inland port system
in the United States make Missouri a critical hub in the
nation's transportation system; and
Whereas, the recent global pandemic, hostilities in
Europe, and efforts by the People's Republic of China to
gain dominance over global supply chains have demonstrated
the critical importance of maintaining resilient domestic
industries and transportation services to the citizens and
workforce of Missouri; 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 i n American shipyards; and
Whereas, the United States' 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, Missouri is home to 8,790 maritime jobs
supported by the Jones Act that generate $503.8 million in
labor income; and
Whereas, maritime industry jobs create ladders of
opportunity for Missourians through high -paying, family-wage
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careers that offer significant career advancement without
requiring collegiate degrees and extensive student loans; 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 $1.8 billion to
the Missouri economy:
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved that the members of the
Missouri Senate, One Hundred and Third General Assembly,
First Regular Session, the House of Representatives
concurring therein, hereby affirm their resolute support for
the Jones Act and celebrates the Jones Act's central role in
fostering a strong domestic maritime industry that is
critical to Missouri's and the nation’s economic prosperity
and national security; and
Be It Further Resolved that properly inscribed copies
of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the
Secretary of the Senate to each member of the Missouri
Congressional Delegation.