The American Waterways Operators, a 350-member trade association representing the nation’s tugboat, towboat and barge industry, congratulates Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) upon his receipt of the American Maritime Partnership’s (AMP) 2012 Champion of Maritime award in honor of his years of leadership and diligence in supporting the nation’s maritime industry and its American workforce.
In Wednesday’s debate, President Obama told the nation that he wants to stop sending jobs overseas. Funny: His administration has repeatedly circumvented a long-standing law that guarantees the employment of American maritime workers, in order to give the job to foreigners.
The reality TV series that is currently airing on the History Channel, Great Lake Warriors, portrays companies involved in vessel operations on the nation’s Great Lakes, focusing on the oftentimes challenging and harsh weather conditions during the winter months.
The low-water levels resulting from severe drought conditions in the Midwest are a stark contrast to the historic flooding of 2011 but share the same potential for significant economic consequences, said Tom Allegretti, President & CEO of American Waterways Operators.
The American Waterways Operators strongly believes that effecting permanent physical separation between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River basins as advocated by the report released yesterday by the Great Lakes Commission and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiatives is the wrong course of action for the thousands of people, from Illinois to Louisiana and beyond, who rely on the Chicago Area Waterways System for their livelihoods.