Linda Sánchez: We Need the Jones Act

Washington, DC – Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-CA), spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives today about a 90-year-old law that has captured Washington's attention. The law restricts shipping between points in the United States to U.S. built vessels that have U.S. owners and U.S. crews.

Rep. Sánchez pointed out that the Jones Act is needed because it "prevents our economy from being dominated by foreign interests, who don't pay American taxes, hire American workers, or even follow American health, safety, and environmental laws."

Recently, critics have claimed that the Jones Act is an impediment to cleanup efforts in the Gulf of Mexico, creating bureaucratic hurdles for foreign vessels that could help.

"Nothing could be further from the truth," said Rep. Sánchez. "There is no evidence that the Jones Act has interfered with the clean-up in any way. We are in a recession. It's time to work together to expand American manufacturing and create jobs, not play partisan games."

Sánchez urged her colleagues to stop posturing and start supporting American families by supporting the Jones Act.

Click here to read a letter Sánchez wrote to the Washington Post about the Jones Act.