The U.S. Navy and Navy League voiced their opposition to legislative attempts on Capitol Hill earlier this year to repeal the Jones Act, a law that requires the use of U.S.-flagged, crewed and built vessels in domestic U.S. waterborne trades.
"For decades, U.S. merchant mariners have provided essential support for the U.S. Navy during times of war and national crisis," the Navy said. "Repealing the Jones Act would remove that support at a time when we are fighting two wars and facing a continuing threat from international terrorism."
The statement comes within days of comments from Daniel B. Branch Jr., president of the Navy League of the United States, highlighting the importance of a "strong commercial maritime industry" to a "maritime nation (like) the United States."
