what is the jones act 
the jones act is a federal law that regulates maritime commerce in the united states the jones act requires goods shipped between u s ports to be transported on ships that are built owned and operated by united states citizens or permanent residents the jones act is section 27 of the merchant marine act of 1920 which provided for the maintenance of the american merchant marine 1understanding the jones actthe jones act was introduced by wesley jones the u s senator from the state of washington who designed the legislation to give his state a monopoly on shipping to alaska it was enacted by the united states congress to stimulate the shipping industry in the wake of world war i 2considered protectionist legislation the jones act focuses on issues related to maritime commerce including cabotage or the transport of people or goods between ports in the same country the act requires that goods shipped between u s ports be transported on ships built owned and operated by united states citizens or permanent residents this provision and its restrictions increase the cost of shipping to hawaii alaska puerto rico and other non continental u s lands that rely on imports 3the jones act is a piece of protectionist legislation that considerably increases the costs of shipping goods between two u s ports goals of the jones actjones act requirementsjones act waiverscriticism of the jones actthe jones act has been cited as a factor affecting puerto rico s economic and budgetary troubles by affecting trade with the island a 2019 report found that for puerto rico the differentials between u s and foreign flagged carriers range from about 41 to as high as 62 for bulk cargo and between 29 and 89 for containerized freight the additional costs caused by the act for the island s economy to be nearly 1 2 billion which comes to roughly 374 per resident 8the waiver of the act was implemented in 2022 only after hurricane fiona hit puerto rico the biden administration allowed a non u s flagged ship to transport fuel to puerto rico following pressure to waive the rule in the face of a fuel shortage to ensure that citizens could run generators needed for electricity and the functioning critical facilities 9opponents hope that a repeal of the act will result in decreased shipping costs lower prices and less strain on government budgets proponents of the act include states with owners of navy yards defense firms and shipping industries as well as the longshoremen and other personnel who work in ports in early 2022 the jones act made headlines for its potential role in the u s russia oil business following russia s invasion of ukraine in late february the u s banned russian oil and gas imports on march 8 10the u s has traditionally relied on imports from russia especially hawaii which imports russian crude oil per year accounting for up to a quarter of all russian oil shipments to the u s critics of the jones act suggest that it limits the viability of shipping oil and gas to remote areas like hawaii forcing the state to rely on imports from russia 11