News
Another Failed Defense of the Jones Act
December 17, 2018
As the Cato Institute continues to press the case for Jones Act reform, defenders of this flawed and failed law have repeatedly made clear that they’ve taken notice.
Damage done to Puerto Rico by the Jones Act illustrates the need to repeal the law
October 03, 2018
By now, you’d think the case for repeal of the protectionist Jones Act, a century-old relic from the Woodrow Wilson administration, would be so strong that we could close our laptops and declare the battle over.
Did We Learn Anything From The Hurricane In Puerto Rico?
September 18, 2018
"Much more important is the continued imposition of the antiquated Jones Act that restricts foreign companies from shipping goods to Puerto Rico, ultimately benefiting mainland businesses at the expense of the island. In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, the Jones Act limited how quickly resources could be brought in, to the detriment of the recovery."
Jones Act waivers aren't a solution; they're a symptom of the problem
September 15, 2018
The sad irony is that we can take all the proper steps to prepare for a hurricane, but our ability to recover is heavily dependent on a decision made thousands of miles away in Washington, DC. And like all decisions made in Washington, it’s subject to politics.
Vice News: Why this Super Ship is Making Enemies in Alaska and on Capitol Hill
June 14, 2018
Along with rival fishing companies and Alaska’s representatives in the Senate, they’ve devised a strategy to stop America’s Finest from ever leaving the shipyard — using an obscure, century-old law called the Jones Act.
Colin Grabow: For Lower Gas Prices, Scrap the Jones Act
May 24, 2018
"This is but a sample of the costs imposed by the Jones Act, which drives up the price of gas and all manner of goods purchased by Americans. If Sen. Schumer and his fellow Democrats are serious about their desire to ease the financial burden placed on Americans by the rising cost of oil, scrapping or deeply reforming this nearly 100-year-old law would be an excellent place to start."
Senator McCain Introduces Legislation to Repeal the Jones Act
July 13, 2017
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) today introduced the Open America’s Waters Act of 2017, legislation that would repeal the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, or the Jones Act. The Jones Act requires that all goods shipped between waterborne ports of the United States be carried by vessels built in the United States and owned and operated by Americans.