Jones Act

Alaska: The Jones Act's original victim

In 1922, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Jones’ discriminatory legislation on the grounds that Alaska was a territory, not a state. But even when Alaska finally became a state — in 1959, along with Hawaii — the economic and social harm continued.

Five myths about the Jones Act

A handy guide addressing five key arguments that Jones Act defenders just won’t let die.

Cruising in Hawaii: How the federal government's 1886 Passenger Vessel Services Act has limited the Aloha State's tourism potential

Ocean cruising is a natural for Hawaii’s tourism industry, but federal law has held it back for more than a century. The report reviews the history of the federal 1886 Passenger Vessel Services Act, including its relationship to Hawaii, and concludes that changes are needed if tourism in the Aloha State is to reach its full diversified potential.

Quantifying the cost of the Jones Act to Hawaii

The protectionist federal maritime law known as the Jones Act costs the average Hawaii family almost $1,800 a year, according to this groundbreaking independent study. The law overall costs Hawaii $1.2 billion annually, including 9,100 jobs and $148 million in taxes.

THE JONES ACT IN PERSPECTIVE: A survey of costs and effects of the 1920 Merchant Marine Act

The report shows that Hawaii ranks near the bottom in terms of economic freedom, at number 46.