HI SR19

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

Identifies that 80% of goods consumed in Hawaii are imported, with 98% arriving by ship, and freight rates between the mainland and Hawaii are among the highest in the world despite low transpacific shipping costs elsewhere.

Argues that Jones Act restrictions create excessive shipping costs that contribute significantly to the high cost of living in Hawaii and create unfair burdens on residents of all four jurisdictions.

Notes that the Jones Act fleet contains no ocean-going livestock carriers, restricting development of the Hawaii beef cattle industry since the world's 160 livestock carriers are registered in other nations.

Urges the President and his administration to support the exemption legislation and directs Hawaii's congressional delegation to request Congress grant the exemption to increase shipping competition and economic benefits for consumers.