Jones Act

U.S. maritime cabotage laws – collectively known as the Jones Act – have served an essential role promoting our nation’s economic and national security since 1920. The Act serves not only to create domestic maritime employment opportunities but also acts as a bulwark against an exploitative international shipping market that seeks to undermine labor rights […]

Dear Senator: On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I write in support of the Jones Act and to respond to substantial confusion regarding how the law applies to Puerto Rico. Repealing or modifying the Act, as provided for in legislation introduced in the Senate, will not provide meaningful relief to the people […]

Did you miss TTD President Ed Wytkind discussing the state of transportation infrastructure on America’s Work Force Radio on Monday? You’re in luck — you can listen to the show here. There’s an enormous need for investment in America’s transportation infrastructure, and the key this year will be ensuring that such investment actually happens. “The real solution […]

In recent years, Congress has generated bad ideas with such regularity that the shock value has diminished. But the latest proposal from Senator John McCain still packs a wallop. With the U.S. economy creating jobs at the fastest pace in 15 years, Senator McCain apparently believes that we can afford to lose close to half […]

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I urge you to oppose an amendment filed by Senator John McCain to S.1, the Keystone XL Pipeline Act. This ideologically driven amendment, which seeks to repeal components of the Jones Act, would outsource American jobs; jeopardize our domestic shipping industry; undermine our nation’s economic, national and homeland security and has no place during a debate over energy policy.