HI SR73

Request Congress to exempt Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, and Puerto Rico from the Jones Act, which restricts shipping of merchandise between the United States and its territories to American-built and registered ships crewed by U.S. citizens

Eighty percent of goods consumed in Hawaii are imported, with ninety-eight percent arriving by ship, yet freight rates between the mainland and Hawaii are among the highest in the world despite low transpacific shipping costs elsewhere

Congress has already exempted the Northern Marianas and American Samoa from the Jones Act; similar exemptions are needed for Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, and Puerto Rico to protect residents' health, safety, and security from disruptions in vital goods delivery

No ocean-going livestock carriers exist in the Jones Act fleet, restricting Hawaii's beef cattle industry development, as the approximately 160 worldwide livestock carriers are registered in other nations

Request the President, congressional leadership, the Department of Transportation, and Hawaii's congressional delegation to support and advance legislation exempting these territories from the Jones Act to foster shipping competition and reduce consumer costs