Shipbuilders: New bill closes key offshore loophole

(WASHINGTON) — The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), the national trade association representing the U.S. shipbuilding and repair industry, has issued the following statement in support of Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and co-sponsors Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., and Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., on introducing the American Offshore Worker Fairness Act:

“The Shipbuilders Council of America and the 400,000 men and women in our domestic shipbuilding workforce strongly support the American Offshore Worker Fairness Act,” said Matthew Paxton, president of the Shipbuilders Council of America. “This common sense, bipartisan legislation closes a loophole that has long been exploited by foreign competitors to undercut America’s maritime workforce. We applaud the efforts of Sen. Cassidy, Rep. Graves and Rep. Garamendi in showing leadership by standing up for the men and women of America’s maritime industry.”

SCA photo

About SCA

Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) members constitute the shipyard industrial base that builds, repairs, maintains and modernizes U.S. Navy ships and craft, U.S. Coast Guard vessels of all sizes, as well as vessels for other U.S. government agencies. In addition, SCA members build, repair and service America’s fleet of commercial vessels.

The council represents 40 companies that own and operate over 80 shipyards, with facilities on all three U.S. coasts, the Great Lakes, the inland waterways system, Alaska and Hawaii. The SCA also represents over 100 partner members that provide goods and services to the shipyard industry.

Shipbuilders Council of America

By Rich Miller