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Policy & Action
This is what we fight for. Every day.
Every M.E.B.A. job depends on federal laws and regulations. We work in Washington so you can work at sea. The Jones Act. Cargo preference. The Maritime Security Program. These aren't abstract policies. They're the reason your job exists.
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Why we fight
This is how we protect what you've earned.
Every law we defend and every policy we push for has a direct line to your job, your pension, and your family's security. This isn't abstract politics. This is your livelihood.
01 / Job
Your job.
Without the Jones Act, foreign-flag vessels with foreign crews replace American officers on domestic trade routes. Without cargo preference, government cargo moves on foreign ships. Every legislative fight is a fight for the jobs that put food on your table.
02 / Security
Your security.
Without full MSP funding, the military sealift fleet shrinks and hundreds of MEBA positions disappear. The Maritime Security Program isn't just national defense policy. It's the contract that keeps your shipping card active and your pension growing.
03 / Family
Your family.
Your pension, your healthcare, your vacation, none of it exists without the contracts that depend on these laws. When we fight in Washington, we're protecting the benefits that cover your family whether you're at sea or on shore.
04 / Industry
Your industry.
The American merchant marine has been shrinking for decades. Every vessel that re-flags to a foreign country is a job that never comes back. M.E.B.A. fights to grow the fleet, not just maintain it. New programs have the potential to revolutionize the industry, and we're at the table making sure they happen.
We don't wait for policy to happen to us. We shape it.
That's what M.E.B.A. has done for 150 years, and that's what we'll keep doing.
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Legislative priorities
Our legislative priorities.
The programs that keep the American merchant marine afloat. We are committed to educating Congress and the public on these issues.
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Additional legislative priorities added via CMS
Your voice matters
Tell it to Congress.
Your representatives need to hear from you. Maritime policy affects your job, your family, and your future. It takes two minutes to send a message that makes a difference.
Use the TTD Action Center to find your members of Congress and send them a pre-written letter supporting maritime legislation.
Not sure who represents you?
Find Your Members of Congress →04
M.E.B.A. Political Action Fund
Every M.E.B.A. job is directly dependent on federal laws. Your contribution protects them.
Every dollar distributed from the PAF goes directly to the political campaigns of legislators who support the maritime industry. No overhead. No middlemen. Your money goes to the people making decisions that affect your career.
Contributions are voluntary and open to members, applicants, retirees, and staff. Most members contribute between 1-2% of their vacation earnings.
