Sens. McCain, Lee introduce bill to permanently exempt Puerto Rico from Jones Act

U.S. Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, introduced legislation to permanently exempt Puerto Rico from the Jones Act, which requires that all goods shipped between American ports travel on U.S.-flagged ships with American crews.    U.S. Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, introduced legislation Thursday to permanently exempt Puerto Rico from the Jones Act.
   The Jones Act, also known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, requires that all goods shipped between American ports travel on U.S.-flagged ships with American crews.
   The Trump administration granted a 10-day Jones Act waiver for Puerto Rico on Thursday, but Sen. McCain said that although he welcomes the temporary waiver, he believes it is insufficient.
   Shipping costs from the U.S. mainland to Puerto Rico have been estimated to be twice as much as from neighboring foreign islands, his office said in a release.
   Sen. McCain has been working to reform and repeal the Jones Act altogether for years, arguing that it hinders free trade and stifles the economy, however, advocates of the Jones Act, such as the American Maritime Partnership, argue the Jones Act is necessary to ensure a strong U.S. maritime industry.