MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2021 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Hopson, Moran, Wiggins, Thompson, Butler, England, Younger, DeLano, Seymour
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, That the Senate of the State of Mississippi 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; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to each member of the Mississippi congressional delegation.