The Jones Act: An Overview (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
July 8, 2003 |
| Report Number |
RS21566 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
John F. Frittelli, Resources, Science, and Industry Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
The Jones Act is a perennial issue in Congress. The Act requires that all waterborne shipping
between points in the United States be carried by vessels built in the United States and owned and
operated by Americans. The purpose of the Act is to ensure that the nation has a sufficient merchant
marine and shipbuilding base to protect the nation's defense and commercial interests. Critics claim
that the Act does not accomplish this goal and furthermore raises shipping costs, thereby making
U.S. farmers and manufacturers less competitive. Jones Act supporters claim that the Act is needed
to foster a domestic shipbuilding base that is vital for national security. Despite economic arguments
against the Jones Act, efforts to repeal the Act have not been successful. This report will not be
updated.
