WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) today announced it is engaging in a strategic hold on the immediate advancement of the American Offshore Worker Fairness Act (AOWFA) to allow space for ongoing high-level negotiations with industry partners to move forward productively.
OMSA members have engaged in these negotiations in good faith, with a continued focus on creating a fair, competitive, and secure offshore energy industry. Recent discussions have resulted in meaningful breakthroughs and OMSA believes continued progress would benefit from a negotiated pause on AOWFA. In response, OMSA is doing just that.
“As a solution-oriented organization, OMSA is stepping back from active advocacy on AOWFA in order to give these negotiations the room to succeed,” said Aaron Smith, President of OMSA. “This decision reflects our commitment to progress, not posturing, and to working constructively with all parties to achieve a lasting, effective outcome for American mariners, American companies, and American-made energy.”
OMSA remains steadfast in its belief that U.S. energy projects should support U.S. jobs, and that strong enforcement of American labor standards offshore is critical to national security and economic strength. The Association will continue working to ensure that any final resolution aligns with those values.
“This is a win for Speaker Johnson, Leader Scalise, Chairman Graves, Chairman Ezell, and Congressman Garamendi. It’s also a win for dialogue, and a sign of maturity in the policy process,” said Smith. “We are encouraged by the continued engagement from policymakers and industry partners, and we will stay at the table, ready to advance real, lasting solutions for the American offshore workforce.”
About the negotiations, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA), said, “For years, the oil industry has refused to negotiate this provision, even though it had overwhelming support from this committee. I understand that this has finally changed, and good-faith negotiations are now underway to establish a vessel preference for American-flagged ships. To give room for these negotiations, I support temporarily removing this provision. Let me be clear: this is a temporary removal. I look forward to working with the Chairman and Ranking Member to include language in the final conference package that will prioritize the reinvigoration of the U.S. maritime industry.”
Learn more at offshoremarine.org
OMSA members have engaged in these negotiations in good faith, with a continued focus on creating a fair, competitive, and secure offshore energy industry. Recent discussions have resulted in meaningful breakthroughs and OMSA believes continued progress would benefit from a negotiated pause on AOWFA. In response, OMSA is doing just that.
“As a solution-oriented organization, OMSA is stepping back from active advocacy on AOWFA in order to give these negotiations the room to succeed,” said Aaron Smith, President of OMSA. “This decision reflects our commitment to progress, not posturing, and to working constructively with all parties to achieve a lasting, effective outcome for American mariners, American companies, and American-made energy.”
OMSA remains steadfast in its belief that U.S. energy projects should support U.S. jobs, and that strong enforcement of American labor standards offshore is critical to national security and economic strength. The Association will continue working to ensure that any final resolution aligns with those values.
“This is a win for Speaker Johnson, Leader Scalise, Chairman Graves, Chairman Ezell, and Congressman Garamendi. It’s also a win for dialogue, and a sign of maturity in the policy process,” said Smith. “We are encouraged by the continued engagement from policymakers and industry partners, and we will stay at the table, ready to advance real, lasting solutions for the American offshore workforce.”
About the negotiations, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA), said, “For years, the oil industry has refused to negotiate this provision, even though it had overwhelming support from this committee. I understand that this has finally changed, and good-faith negotiations are now underway to establish a vessel preference for American-flagged ships. To give room for these negotiations, I support temporarily removing this provision. Let me be clear: this is a temporary removal. I look forward to working with the Chairman and Ranking Member to include language in the final conference package that will prioritize the reinvigoration of the U.S. maritime industry.”
Learn more at offshoremarine.org
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The Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) is the advocate for the offshore marine transportation service industry in the United States. The Association represents 170-member companies and their 12,000 U.S. employees based throughout the U.S.
Media Contact
Anna Stallmann
media@acentcomms.com
708-476-1258
Media Contact
Anna Stallmann
media@acentcomms.com
708-476-1258