Ship American Part of Biden Infrastructure Plan

The Biden Administration embarked on a legislative voyage of historic proportions in the American Jobs Plan. Although it contains the roads, bridges and other traditional infrastructure components, this Plan has echoes of FDR's New Deal in its broad and potentially transformative scope. Maritime is part of it, both in terms of $17 billion of funding for ports and other marine projects, but also in the "Ship American" ideas of the Jones Act, cargo preference, and thus U.S.-flag crews on U.S.-flag ships. It is pro-labor by aiding Union organizing and pro-American by closing the loopholes of foreign corporate tax cheaters. Meanwhile, merchant mariners gained recognition from a variety of sources and events, and SUP COPE endorsed Assemblyman Rob Bonta became the first Filipino to hold the prestigious California Attorney General's job. The Suez Canal grounding, labor job actions in the Port of Los Angeles, and Florida's lawsuit on behalf of the ungovernable FoC cruise ship industry all get detailed coverage. There is a focus on member access to SUP Retirement Resources and a Look Astern at the passenger ship watchmen in this hope springs eternal April issue of the West Coast Sailors.

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Issue date: 

Monday, April 19, 2021