S. 1894 · 115th Congress

A bill to exempt Puerto Rico from the coastwise laws of the United States (commonly known as the "Jones Act").

Stage
Introduced
Introduced
2017-09-28
Latest action
2017-10-02 · Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 232.

Summary

This bill revises the coastwise laws, commonly known as the Jones Act, that govern domestic transportation of merchandise or passengers by vessels. The Jones Act requires that vessels transporting merchandise or passengers between Puerto Rico and other U.S. ports be built in the United States, at least 75% owned by U.S. citizens, and mostly crewed by U.S. citizens. Jones Act requirements are currently waived with respect to vessels transporting passengers between Puerto Rico and U.S. ports. This bill permanently exempts vessels transporting merchandise between Puerto Rico and other U.S. ports from those requirements.