IL HR0291

Illinois affirms resolute support for the Jones Act (Merchant Marine Act of 1920), which requires vessels carrying cargo between U.S. locations be owned by American companies, crewed by American mariners, and built in American shipyards.

Illinois is home to 19,500 maritime jobs supported by the Jones Act (ninth highest among all states), generating more than $1.3 billion in worker income.

The Jones Act fleet of over 40,000 vessels supports nearly 650,000 family-wage jobs nationally and contributes $4.87 billion to the Illinois economy and over $154 billion nationally.

Mariners aboard Jones Act vessels strengthen homeland security by monitoring the nation's 95,000 miles of shoreline and 25,000 miles of navigable inland waterways.

Copies of the resolution shall be delivered to each member of the Illinois Congressional Delegation.