A campaign pledge of support for the Jones Act has earned President Barack Obama the cover spot on the 2008 Annual Report of the Maritime Cabotage Task Force, a Washington, D.C.-based coalition promoting the domestic U.S.- Flag fleet. Maritime Cabotage Task Force (MCTF) also drove the development and passage of a new statutory requirement that the Maritime Administration (MarAd) be consulted before any decision to waive the Jones Act. MarAd now must make an affirmative determination that U.S.-flag vessels are not available to address the situation prior to the issuance of a waiver. No Jones Act waivers were issued after Hurricanes Gustav or Ike. During 2008, MCTF was also active in addressing a U.S.
