Resolution pertaining to temporary lifting of the Jones Act, re: BP Oil Spill<!--StartFragment-->

WHEREAS, the British Petroleum oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which resulted from an accident and subsequent explosion aboard the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon on April 20, 2010   resulted in the death of eleven rig workers and has since created the largest economic and environmental disaster in American history; and,

WHEREAS, the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones Act, requires that all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried in U.S. flag ships and crewed by U.S. citizens; and,

WHEREAS, because this legislation may be preventing vital assets, in the form of foreign registered oil skimming vessels, from participating in clean-up operations; and,

WHEREAS, the OPEIU recognizes the urgency of bringing any and all assets to bare in cleaning-up the spill and supports all efforts to facilitate the financial and environmental recovery of the region.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that OPEIU encourages the President of the United States to temporarily lift the Jones Act and support efforts to bring any available asset, regardless of country of origin, into the Gulf as soon as possible.

SUBMITTED BY:                        Delegate Peter Catalano

                                                OPEIU Local 107

                                                New Iberia, Louisiana