Today we join military leaders, bipartisan members of Congress from all 50 states and Navy League Councils around the world to celebrate the 650,000 workers of the domestic maritime industry on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Merchant Marine Act.

Commonly known as the Jones Act, this staple of our national security ensures that only vessels that are American-built, American-owned and American-flagged can operate in domestic commerce, which in return strengthens and supports U.S. sovereignty and security while driving economic benefits to local communities.