AMP honors Rep. Garamendi with Champion of Maritime Award

Congressman Garamendi Presentation

The following is text of a news release from the American Maritime Partnership (AMP):

(VALLEJO, Calif.) — The American Maritime Partnership, the voice of the domestic maritime industry, recognized U.S. Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., on Monday with the 2018 Champion of Maritime Award. AMP confers its highest award to a member of Congress for extraordinary support and dedication to the American maritime industry.

Through his years of work in the U.S. Congress, Garamendi has shown unwavering and ardent support for domestic maritime, which includes the men and women who build, operate and crew the tens of thousands of vessels that transport goods and people safely in the more than 95,000 miles of U.S. coastline and inland waterways.

The award was provided during a ceremony in his home state of California at California State University Maritime Academy on Sept. 17.

Garamendi’s longstanding support for U.S. maritime is demonstrated through his work as ranking member of the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee of the House Transportation Committee and recognition of the critical function of the domestic maritime industry for national security by providing the necessary manning needs through the ready availability of domestic mariners in a national emergency.

In addition to his work to promote the contribution that the American maritime industry makes to California by providing thousands of family-waged jobs and adding more than $6.6 billion annually to the state’s economy alone, Garamendi recognizes the importance of this industry to the nation’s economic, national, and homeland security interests. Nationwide, the domestic maritime industry accounts for approximately 500,000 American jobs and more than $100 billion in annual economic impact.

“When we think about all the issues at the forefront of American politics right now — good-paying jobs, energy independence, national security, trade, and rebuilding our manufacturing sector — the American maritime industry is at the forefront of all of them. Unfortunately, it’s not on the minds of many of our leaders in Washington. I’m proud of the work we’re doing together to change that. The successes we’ve had for our domestic maritime industry would not be possible without the tireless efforts of the American Maritime Partnership, and I couldn’t be more honored to receive the Champion of Maritime Award. I also want to thank the Propeller Club of Northern California, the California State University Maritime Academy, and my Maritime Advisory Committee for bringing the maritime community together today to discuss the challenges and opportunities before us. As a united maritime industry, we will continue to rebuild this critical sector to advance America’s national and economic security,” said Garamendi.

“It is hard to imagine a more tireless supporter of our industry. When the American maritime industry faces a challenge or an opportunity, we can be sure with absolute certainty that Rep. Garamendi will be a leader for the men and women of American maritime,” said Matt Woodruff, chairman of the American Maritime Partnership. “At the top of our list, he is a leading champion of the Jones Act, the fundamental law of the American maritime industry which is essential to the strength of our domestic, homeland and national security. Due to Rep. Garamendi’s dedication to our industry, we can think of no better leader to bestow AMP’s highest honor – the Champion of Maritime.”

By Professional Mariner Staff