Puerto Rico recently needed a shipment of
liquid natural gas. Simple solution: Import it from nearby America, right?
Sorry, that would have been against U.S. law.
The Puerto Rico shipment came from Siberia.
The less expensive solution was prevented
by the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, usually known as the Jones Act. This requires
that goods shipped between U.S. ports and territories must be carried on ships built
in America, 75-percent owned and 75-percent crewed by Americans, and with the
goods never sold to foreign citizens. The purpose: to protect American shipping.
Hah! Lots of shipping to and from U.S. shores has been protected out of
existence.
Ships built abroad cost far less than those
that comply with the Jones Act. Repealing the law and using foreign-made ships would
cut the cost and increase the volume of shipping to and from America, stimulating
the economy.
The Seafarers International Union, representing
U.S. merchant mariners sailing aboard U.S.-flagged vessels, supports the Jones
Act with congressional campaign gifts. The union has 36,000 members. They’re
the winners. The U.S. has 330 million citizens. They’re the losers.
The Jones Act has imposed significant costs
on America. It’s time for the members of Congress to assign the nation a higher
priority than their own campaign coffers. It’s time to give the Jones Act the
deep six.
