MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2021 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representatives Ford (54th), Denton

House Resolution 63

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING SUPPORT FOR THE JONES ACT AND CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF ITS PASSAGE WHICH HAS FOSTERED A STRONG DOMESTIC MARITIME INDUSTRY THAT IS CRITICAL TO MISSISSIPPI'S AND THE NATION'S ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND NATIONAL SECURITY.

     WHEREAS, Mississippi's access to over 1,000 miles of the Mississippi River, Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway makes it a critical hub in the nation's transportation system; and

     WHEREAS, the current global pandemic has demonstrated the critical importance of maintaining resilient domestic industries and transportation services to the citizens and workforce of Mississippi; 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, Mississippi is home to 13,460 maritime jobs supported by the Jones Act, the sixth-highest per capita among all states, that generate $728.8 million in labor income; and

     WHEREAS, maritime industry jobs create ladders of opportunity through high-paying, family-wage careers that offer significant career advancement without generally necessitating advanced formal education 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 $3.05 billion to the Mississippi economy:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the House of Representatives affirms its resolute support for the Jones Act and celebrates the centennial anniversary of its passage which has fostered a strong domestic maritime industry that is critical to Mississippi's and the nation's economic prosperity and national security.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to each member of the Mississippi congressional delegation and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.