Political Quotes

“Mr. President, yesterday, May 22, 2016, our Nation celebrated National Maritime Day. The United States has always been and will always be a great maritime nation. My home State of Louisiana ranks first in the Nation in economic impact from America's domestic maritime industry. The American Maritime Partnership shows Louisiana's 54,850 maritime jobs pump more than $11.3 billion annually into our economy. America's robust domestic maritime industry includes vessel operators, marine terminals, shipyards, and workers engaged in the movement of cargo exclusively within the United States. According to a study commissioned by the Transportation Institute and conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, PwC, Louisiana also ranks first in the country in maritime jobs per capita, with 1 in every 83 jobs connected to the State's domestic maritime industry, nearly twice that of any other State. Louisiana also ranks third in the Nation in shipbuilding. According to the U.S. Maritime Administration shipbuilding accounts for 29,250 jobs and more than $2.23 billion in annual economic impact for our State. However, Congress has the responsibility for ensuring that our Nation's maritime infrastructure is adequately maintained in order for this industry to flourish. There is no greater maritime asset in the United States then the Mississippi River and its tributaries.…”