Florida Maritime Partnership Applauds Biden Administration For Prioritizing Support of Jones Act in “Buy American” Executive Order

The Florida Maritime Partnership, the voice of Florida’s domestic maritime industry, today applauds President Biden’s new Executive Order “Strengthening ‘Buy American’ Provisions, Ensuring [the] Future of America is Made in America by All of America’s Workers.”

Signaled as a priority, the Executive Order formally confirms the Biden Administration’s policy to strongly support American workers and businesses serving domestic trades under the Jones Act.

The Executive Order also recognizes the recent enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) as “an opportunity to invest in America’s workers as we build offshore renewable energy, in line with the President’s goals to build our clean energy future here in America.”

Florida is home to the nation’s second-largest Jones Act industry, employing 66,000 Floridians and making a $14.6 billion economic impact on the state.

“The success of the domestic maritime industry is enabled by the Jones Act, which allows Florida Maritime Partnership member organizations the ability to leverage innovative technologies, focused investments and dedicated trade routes to create a significant, positive economic impact to the markets we serve,” said Christopher Smith, president of the Florida Maritime Partnership. “President Biden has long been an ardent supporter of the Jones Act and we commend his Executive Order prioritizing ‘Buy American’ and recognizing the importance of the domestic maritime industry to U.S. economic, national and homeland security interests.”

FMP’s member companies include: American Waterways Operators, Crowley Maritime, Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG), TOTE, Transportation Institute, American Maritime Officers, American Maritime Officers Service, Dredging Contractors of America, Great Lake Dredge & Dock, JAXPORT, Kirby Corporation, Marine Towing of Tampa, McAllister Towing, SEACOR, and Seafarers International Union. 

“The swift issuance of this Executive Order emphasizing ‘Buy American’ is an affirmation of President Biden’s long-standing support of policies that promote the domestic maritime industry. We applaud this recognition of the important role our industry plays in supporting American jobs, contributing to the growth of our nation’s economy and meeting the needs of those we reliably serve,” said Tim Nolan, President and CEO, TOTE, LLC. 

“The Jones Act is in and of itself the ideal example of ‘Buy American’ in principle and in practice.” “As the national trade association for the American tugboat, towboat and barge industry, The American Waterways Operators commends President Biden for reaffirming his strong support for the Jones Act in the opening days of his administration. The Jones Act is the foundation for every dollar AWO member companies invest in American-built vessels and every job they provide for Americans across the country. We look forward to working with the President and his team to strengthen the American maritime industry, which is crucial to our national, homeland and economic security,” said Jennifer Carpenter, President and CEO, The American Waterways Operators.  

“The Jones Act is one of the nation’s strongest ‘Buy American’ laws and when you support it, you support American maritime jobs, and the entire American maritime industry, which is a critical component of our national economy and security. We are very pleased to see the Biden Administration’s support of ‘Buy American’ and Jones Act policies with this Executive Order,” said Richard Balzano, CEO, Dredging Contractors of America. 

“We look to be a leader on America’s path to a low carbon future, whether through new vessels to support offshore wind generation, or new low-carbon technologies to move America’s cargo. The unequivocal support of the administration reassures us as we contemplate these investments,” said David Grzebinski, CEO, Kirby Corporation. 

“President Biden’s quick, decisive action in supporting the Jones Act during his first week in office demonstrates his strong commitment to the 650,000 Americans working in the domestic maritime industry,” said James L. Henry, Chairman, Transportation Institute.