Expresses support for the federal Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones Act
Summary
Senate Concurrent Resolution 4 is a nonbinding resolution expressing the Missouri General Assembly’s support for the federal Merchant Marine Act of 1920, commonly known as the Jones Act. The resolution emphasizes Missouri’s geographic and economic connection to inland and river shipping, citing the state’s access to the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, the Port of Metropolitan St. Louis, and the role of domestic maritime transportation in the state and national economy.
The resolution argues that the Jones Act is important to supply-chain resilience, national security, and military readiness, especially in light of the pandemic, global conflict, and foreign competition in shipping and logistics. It highlights the number of Missouri maritime jobs supported by the act, the labor income those jobs generate, and the broader national economic output associated with the U.S.-flagged domestic fleet. The measure also frames maritime work as a source of family-wage employment and career advancement for Missourians.
Impact
SCR4 does not change Missouri statutes or create new state regulatory requirements; it is a concurrent resolution that formally states legislative support for a federal law. Its practical effect is political and symbolic, directing copies of the resolution to Missouri’s congressional delegation and signaling the General Assembly’s position on federal maritime policy. The resolution’s focus is on the Jones Act’s effects on domestic shipping, maritime employment, inland waterways, and related economic and security interests.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment reflected in the bill text is strongly supportive of the Jones Act and the domestic maritime industry. The resolution uses affirmative language about economic prosperity, job creation, and national security, and there is no indication in the provided record of formal opposition, committee controversy, or recorded dissenting votes. The available context shows no committee transcripts or vote history, suggesting the measure was presented as a consensus statement rather than a contested policy change.
Contention
Because SCR4 is a resolution endorsing an existing federal law, the main point of contention is not within the bill text itself but in the broader policy debate over the Jones Act. Supporters emphasize domestic jobs, security, and supply-chain resilience, while critics of the Jones Act in general often argue it raises shipping costs and limits competition; however, no such objections are documented in the provided legislative record for this resolution. In the Missouri context, the resolution appears aimed at reinforcing support for maritime industries and the state’s congressional delegation rather than resolving a specific state-law dispute.