AK HR7

Urges United States Congress to repeal the Jones Act (46 U.S.C. 55102), a federal cabotage law restricting cargo transport by water between U.S. coastwise points to vessels built, flagged, owned, and crewed by the United States.

Cites Jones Act requirements as dramatically increasing costs for purchasing, staffing, and maintaining shipping vessels, resulting in an older, smaller U.S. shipping fleet with higher fuel and maintenance costs.

Notes that a 2013 World Economic Forum report described the Jones Act as the "most restrictive example" of cabotage law that damages local economies and saddles businesses and consumers with significant costs.

Identifies Alaska-specific concerns that the Jones Act was adopted before Alaska statehood without Alaska representation and was originally sponsored to give Washington state a monopoly on Alaska shipping lines.

Directs copies of the resolution to be sent to President Biden, Congressional leadership, the Secretary of Transportation, and Alaska's delegation in Congress.