My family hails from Two Harbors and my wife is from Grand Rapids, so I feel a close affinity to the 8th Congressional District. I am concerned about the impact of electing a Republican to represent the district.
I feel Republicans want to change U.S. shipping laws and regulations in a way that could dramatically impact the port of Duluth. First, Republicans want to repeal the Jones Act, which requires U.S.-flagged carriers to be used when cargo is shipped between U.S. ports. Sen. John McCain introduced this legislation; it will be introduced in the House next session. If passed, foreign carriers would replace the U.S. carriers on the Great Lakes and, again, outsource those jobs away from the U.S.
Equally, the Republicans reportedly are proposing to allow U.S.-flagged shipping companies to offer employment to foreign citizens by accepting their certifications from countries other than the U.S. This would allow our U.S. companies to remove U.S. citizens from their jobs and replace them with foreign workers.
Republican attacks on U.S. workers and their jobs must be stopped. Oberstar will never support this type of legislation. You shouldn't either. Vote for him and American jobs for American citizens on Election Day.
Jeff Johnson
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Shoreview, Minn.
