HR0291 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0291 LRB103 32378 MST 61793 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Illinois' pivotal role as a hub between maritime transportation on the Great Lakes and inland river system, including 1,100 miles of navigable waterways on the Illinois, Ohio, and Mississippi River systems, make it central to the nation's transportation system; and

WHEREAS, The recent global pandemic and hostilities in Europe have demonstrated the critical importance of maintaining resilient domestic industries and transportation services for the citizens and workforce of Illinois; 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, Illinois is home to 19,500 maritime jobs supported by the Jones Act, the ninth highest among all states, that generate more than $1.3 billion in worker income; and

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 $4.87 billion to the Illinois economy; 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, 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; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we affirm our resolute support for the Jones Act and celebrate the more than 100-year history of the Jones Act in fostering a strong domestic maritime industry that is critical to Illinois workers and families and to the nation's economic prosperity and national security; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to each member of the Illinois Congressional Delegation.