American Cargo for American Ships Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of my bill, the American Cargo for American Ships Act, and to express my thanks for the bipartisan leadership of Chair Sam Graves, Ranking Member Larsen, and also Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chair Ezell, who cosponsored this important legislation.

My bill strengthens the American merchant marine by guaranteeing that 100 percent of U.S. cargo generated by the Department of Transportation will be transported on U.S.-flagged ships. It is that simple.

This bill is the maritime industry's version of Buy American. If the government is shipping cargo, it should be on American vessels.

Starting with the end of World War II, the U.S. merchant marine has shrunk to an unacceptable level. My bill is an actionable step that we can take right now to improve the maritime industry, grow the U.S. mariner pool, and increase the number of U.S.-flagged ships.

From a national security perspective, cargo preference remains an effective shipping strategy in maintaining our Nation's presence and economic viability in the international market.

As the Department of Transportation is responsible for overseeing the majority of American maritime shipping, both domestically and globally, there is no reason why the Department cannot and should not set an example that is meaningful.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support passage of H.R. 2035, the American Cargo for American Ships Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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