19. Department of Transportation · Major · Needs Congress
Repeal or substantially reform the Jones Act
Not started
Printed page 638 19. Department of Transportation
“Serious consideration should be given to repealing or substantially reforming the Jones Act, which would require legislation.”
What has happened
- Not started
No repeal or reform bill has moved in either chamber and no administration request was found; Executive Order 14269 (Restoring America's Maritime Dominance, 2025-04-09) builds on the Jones Act rather than reforming it.
No action found yet. This entry is the starting point, not a finding.
Research log
What was searched, and what didn’t count as evidence
Research notes
- Bills introduced only (leads; introduction is not started under the playbook): Open America’s Waters Act, S. 2043 (2025-06-12, referred to Commerce) — https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119s2043is/html/BILLS-119s2043is.htm — and H.R. 3940 (2025-06-13, referred to the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation subcommittee). Open America’s Ports Act, S. 2537 (2025-07-30). None has had committee action.
- Executive Order 14269, read in full at https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/restoring-americas-maritime-dominance/ , does not mention the Jones Act or cabotage; its Maritime Action Plan works within the existing coastwise regime. The SHIPS for America Act (S. 1541 / H.R. 3151, 2025-04-30) strengthens rather than reforms cabotage.
- Action
- repeal
- Object
- Jones Act (Merchant Marine Act of 1920)
- ID
- 1757