NEW ORLEANS, LA – The Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) today issued the following statement in response to lawmakers releasing the final text for the long negotiated National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The legislation fails to include the American Offshore Worker Fairness Act (AOWFA), a critical offshoring provisions supported by the Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) and many in the U.S. maritime industry.
“Failing to enact AOWFA jeopardizes our national security by continuing to ignore the preferential treatment U.S. law gives to adversarial nations instead of investing in our own ships, mariners, and domestic capabilities. Rather than ensuring that American offshore energy jobs go to Americans first, this year’s NDAA favors Big Oil, Big Wind, and foreign companies who care more for lining their pockets than for giving American workers a fair chance. Make no mistake, today’s bill ensures that Malaysian mariners have a better chance of working in U.S. offshore wind, than Massachusetts mariners and vessels flagged in Malta have a better chance of working in the Gulf of Mexico, than those built in Mississippi.”
“Over the last two years, American mariners and maritime companies have come to the table with solutions, compromises, and pathways forward that would allow U.S. mariners and shipyard workers a fair opportunity to compete, while simultaneously cultivating a stable resource for U.S. military needs. Yet, despite our willingness to negotiate, Big Oil and Big Wind continue to peddle lies to Congress to preserve their ability to exploit low-wage, foreign workers at the expense of Americans. It’s simple, America’s natural resources should lead to American jobs, not larger profits for foreign investors, and certainly not benefits for adversarial nations.”
While today is a sad day for the American maritime industry, we are steadfast in our commitment to mariners like Randy Adams, and we will continue to fight to protect the spirit and intentions of American laws by ending dangerous legislative loopholes. We look forward to working with our legislative champions who share our belief that American mariners and shipbuilders can compete with anyone across the globe when given a fair opportunity. We are not asking for a handout, just a fair chance to build a great American offshore wind industry employed with American mariners and American vessels.
“Failing to enact AOWFA jeopardizes our national security by continuing to ignore the preferential treatment U.S. law gives to adversarial nations instead of investing in our own ships, mariners, and domestic capabilities. Rather than ensuring that American offshore energy jobs go to Americans first, this year’s NDAA favors Big Oil, Big Wind, and foreign companies who care more for lining their pockets than for giving American workers a fair chance. Make no mistake, today’s bill ensures that Malaysian mariners have a better chance of working in U.S. offshore wind, than Massachusetts mariners and vessels flagged in Malta have a better chance of working in the Gulf of Mexico, than those built in Mississippi.”
“Over the last two years, American mariners and maritime companies have come to the table with solutions, compromises, and pathways forward that would allow U.S. mariners and shipyard workers a fair opportunity to compete, while simultaneously cultivating a stable resource for U.S. military needs. Yet, despite our willingness to negotiate, Big Oil and Big Wind continue to peddle lies to Congress to preserve their ability to exploit low-wage, foreign workers at the expense of Americans. It’s simple, America’s natural resources should lead to American jobs, not larger profits for foreign investors, and certainly not benefits for adversarial nations.”
While today is a sad day for the American maritime industry, we are steadfast in our commitment to mariners like Randy Adams, and we will continue to fight to protect the spirit and intentions of American laws by ending dangerous legislative loopholes. We look forward to working with our legislative champions who share our belief that American mariners and shipbuilders can compete with anyone across the globe when given a fair opportunity. We are not asking for a handout, just a fair chance to build a great American offshore wind industry employed with American mariners and American vessels.
About Offshore Marine Service Association
The Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) is the leading association of and spokesman and advocate for the offshore marine transportation service industry in the United States. The association represents 120-member companies and their 12,000 U.S. employees based throughout the U.S. For more information, please visit www.offshoremarine.org.
The Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) is the leading association of and spokesman and advocate for the offshore marine transportation service industry in the United States. The association represents 120-member companies and their 12,000 U.S. employees based throughout the U.S. For more information, please visit www.offshoremarine.org.
