What This Bill Does · Plain English
Summary · Congress.gov
Noncontiguous Shipping Competition Act This bill revises coastwise laws, commonly known as the Jones Act, that govern domestic transportation of merchandise or passengers by vessels. The Jones Act generally requires that a vessel transporting merchandise or passengers from one U.S. point to another U.S. point be (1) built in the United States, (2) at least 75% owned by U.S. citizens, and (3) mostly crewed by U.S. citizens. The act also includes several exemptions and exceptions. The bill exempts carriage on a route in noncontiguous trade from Jones Act requirements unless (1) at least three owners or operators of coastwise qualified vessels regularly operate such a vessel on the route, (2) each of such owners or operators transports at least 20% of the volume of goods on that route, and (3) none of such owners or operators are under common ownership. (Generally, noncontiguous trade is trade between two U.S. points where at least one of the points is in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or an insular territory or U.S. possession.)
Action Timeline
2025-02-04
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E90-91)
2025-01-24
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
2025-01-23
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
2025-01-23
Introduced in House
2025-01-23
Introduced in House
Frequently Asked Questions
Did HR.665 pass?
HR.665 is still alive. Current stage: INTRODUCED. Pass likelihood: 35%.
What does HR.665 do?
Noncontiguous Shipping Competition Act This bill revises coastwise laws, commonly known as the Jones Act, that govern domestic transportation of merchandise or passengers by vessels. The Jones Act generally requires that a vessel transporting merchandise or passengers from one U.S. point to another U.S. point be (1) built in the United States, (2) at least 75% owned by U.S. citizens, and (3) mostly crewed by U.S. citizens. The act also includes several exemptions and exceptions. The bill exempts carriage on a route in noncontiguous trade from Jones Act requirements unless (1) at least three ow…
Who sponsored HR.665?
HR.665 was sponsored by Ed Case (D-Hawaii).
Full Bill Text
119 HR 665 IH: Noncontiguous Shipping Competition Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-01-23 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 665 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 23, 2025 Mr. Case (for himself and Mr. Moylan ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To amend title 46, United States Code, to exempt certain noncontiguous trade from the coastwise laws. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Noncontiguous Shipping Competition Act . 2. Shipping: Exemption of certain noncontiguous trade from the coastwise laws Section 55101(b) of title 46, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (2), by striking or after the semicolon; (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting ; or ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (4) carriage on a route in noncontiguous trade (as that term is defined in section 53501), unless— (A) at least three owners or operators of coastwise qualified vessels (as that term is defined in section 55108(a)) regularly operate such a vessel on such route; (B) each of such owners or operators transports at least 20 percent of the volume of goods on that route; and (C) none of such owners or operators are under common ownership. .
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