WHEREAS, California has over 3,000 miles of coastline and a shoreline of bays and inlets with 12 ports that make it a critical hub of the nations transportation system; and

WHEREAS, Californias domestic maritime industry provides an annual $12.2 billion economic contribution to the states economy, including $3.6 billion in labor income across more than 51,000 jobs; and

WHEREAS, The State of California provides a significant role in supporting Americas maritime industry through the California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, a leader in maritime education; and

WHEREAS, The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, known as the Jones Act and codified in Title 46 of the United States. Code, requires that vessels carrying cargo between locations in the United States be owned by American companies, crewed by American mariners, and built in American shipyards; and

WHEREAS, Cargo ships calling on California ports covered by the Jones Act, and the mariners who work on those ships, provide an essential service, and carry 40 percent of all containerized imports and thirty percent of all exports in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The tragic March 26, 2024, collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland that took six lives and occurred after the bridge was struck by the cargo ship MV Dali, and the April 5, 2024, power failure on the cargo ship APL Qingdao that caused it to lose propulsion as it traversed a shipping lane between Staten Island, New York, and Bayonne, New Jersey, demonstrate the important role professional mariners and well maintained and fully operational equipment play in protecting human life, infrastructure, and the environment; and

WHEREAS, Jones Act vessels and mariners are critical to transporting the states growing renewable fuels resources and will be critical to developing Californias offshore wind energy industry; and

WHEREAS, The domestic maritime industry has been a perennial leader in environmental stewardship, representing the cleanest, safest, and most fuel efficient way of moving cargo; and

WHEREAS, California is home to the first zero-emission tugboat in the United States and

WHEREAS, Maritime industry jobs provide Californians an opportunity for a high-paying, living-wage career that offers significant career advancement opportunities, generally without the need for advanced formal education or extensive student loans; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly of the State of California, in recognition of National Maritime Day on May 22, 2024, affirms its resolute support for Californias maritime industry and the domestic maritime workforce; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the Assembly to the author for appropriate distribution.

Date of Hearing: May 28, 2024

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES

Blanca Pacheco, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:HR 103 (

Author:Gipson) – As Introduced Ver:May 21, 2024

SUBJECT: National Maritime Day.

SUMMARY: Recognizes May 22, 2024, as National Maritime Day, and affirms support for California’s maritime industry and the domestic maritime workforce. Specifically, this resolution makes the following legislative findings:

1. California has over 3,000 miles of coastline and a shoreline of bays and inlets with 12 ports that make it a critical hub of the nation’s transportation system.
2. California’s domestic maritime industry provides an annual $12.2 billion economic contribution to the state’s economy, including $3.6 billion in labor income across more than 51,000 jobs.
3. The State of California provides a significant role in supporting America’s maritime industry through the California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, a leader in maritime education.
4. The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, known as the Jones Act and codified in Title 46 of the United States Code, requires that vessels carrying cargo between locations in the United States be owned by American companies, crewed by American mariners, and built in American shipyards.
5. Jones Act vessels and mariners are critical to transporting the state’s growing renewable fuels resources and will be critical to developing California’s offshore wind energy industry.
6. The domestic maritime industry has been a perennial leader in environmental stewardship, representing the cleanest, safest, and most fuel efficient way of moving cargo.
7. Maritime industry jobs provide Californians an opportunity for a high-paying, living-wage career that offers significant career advancement opportunities, generally without the need for advanced formal education or extensive student loans.

FISCAL EFFECT: This resolution is keyed non-fiscal by Legislative Counsel.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

None on file

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Michael Erke / RLS. / (916) 319-2800