The Jones Act of 1920 is a law which requires that all goods transported by water between US ports be carried on US-flag ships, built in the United States, owned by U.S. citizens, and crewed by U.S. citizens
The Jones Act has the dubious distinction of harming the environment and the economy. It is detrimental to its goals of protecting US shipping, jobs and the helping the military. It is especially brutal on Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska, whose economies rely on shipping. But it is protected by a coterie of companies and unions and their political benefactors. It’s the classic case of a focused special interest blood sucking money from a largely unaware public.
You can get a great intro to the Jones Act here:
General Articles
- The Jones Act Costs All Americans Too Much – Bloomberg
- The Jones Act – Grassroots Institute of Hawaii
- No por mérito sino por amiguismo, la Ley Jones sigue en vigencia y haciendo daño – Univision
- An Economic Analysis of the Jones Act – Mercatus
- Jones Act debate continues after 100 years – Workboat
- We have the perfect birthday gift for the Jones Act – Grassroots Institute of Hawaii
Damage to Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska
- The Jones Act: The Law Strangling Puerto Rico – New York Times
- Hawaii’s Jones Act Costs … and Misconceptions – Grassroots Institute of Hawaii
- The Jones Act has been hurting Puerto Rico for decades – CNN
- Expertos exponen los altos costos de las leyes de cabotaje para Puerto Rico – elnuevodia.com
- House Bill Seeks 5-Year Moratorium of Jones Act in Puerto Rico – GCaptain
- Shipping fees: Federal law increases transport costs tenfold – Hawaii Reporter
Damage to the Environment
- Environmental Cost of the Jones Act – Cato Institute
- Truckers? Let’s Try Ships – National Review
Does the Jones Act help military preparedness?
- The Jones Act does not add to our nation’s defenses – American Enterprise Institute
- The Deep End of the Swamp – National Review
- Navy Secretary Calls for Used-Ship Buy to Recapitalize Sealift Fleet (because he can’t afford Jones Act ships) – maritimeexecutive.com
- Keeping Up With the Jones Act – USNI News
Does the Jones Act protect US jobs and shipping?
- How protectionism sank America’s entire merchant fleet – the Economist
- New Report Exposes Jones Act’s Flaws – Cato Institute
- How the maritime industry is sunk by prohibition – the Washington Times
Who supports the Jones Act?
- Cassidy Leads Bipartisan Group of Senators in Urging Trump Administration to Strengthen Enforcement of Jones Act
- How the Jones Act lets unions and a few companies hold the economy hostage
- The special interests lobbying to uphold the century-old law hampering relief to Puerto Rico – opensecrets.org
- Trump backed off shipping reform under political pressure, former advisers claim – Washington Examiner