On Sept. 30, the Washington DC-based American Maritime Partnership recognized US Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) with the 2015 Champion of Maritime Award, honoring Hunter for what the AMP says is his “extraordinary support and dedication” to the American maritime industry.
Rep. Hunter, a US Marine Corps veteran, chairs the federal Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation and is a member of the Seapower Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee.
“Chairman Hunter has been a tremendously valued champion for the domestic American maritime industry, serving as a leader who truly understands our industry’s critical role to the vitality and security of our nation,” AMP Chair Tom Allegretti said. “From his time in the service to his seat as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Congressman Hunter has witnessed firsthand what it takes to sustain a strong maritime industry and because of his dedication, we are honored to provide him with our highest honor – the Champion of Maritime Award.”
In June, Hunter joined hundreds of veterans and active military at the American Maritime Partnership’s ‘Military to Maritime’ career fair in San Diego where he met with men and women looking to transfer their skills learned in the military into a career in the maritime industry.
“The true champions of maritime are the hundreds of thousands of highly-skilled service men and women in the American maritime industry who tirelessly work to protect our waterways – such a strength in defense wouldn’t be possible without the Jones Act,” Hunter said. “I will continue to vocalize my support for the American maritime industry; one that creates good paying family-wage jobs, secures our borders, and fuels our economy.”