Week 2 Assignment Course Objectives: · Revise artifacts from previous coursework throughout the program based on feedback from the instructor. · Organize a significant collection of artifacts in an eP

Running head: THE JONES ACT

The Jones Act of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920

Latissa Butler

American Public University

Dr. Wallace Burns

February 23, 2020

The Jones Act of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920

The century-old Merchant Marine law of 1920, also known as "Jones Act" has been part of a contentious topic in the U.S for a long time. Jones Act has seen an excessive strain in the economy with prices of goods in many states hiking due to the restriction of foreign ships into U.S water territorials. There has also been a tremendous impact on the environment and internal revenue. The limits have impacted heavily on people living in the coasts of Hawaii, Alaska the island of Puerto Rico and Guam as a result of the Section 27 act which only allows "cabotage".

Conversely, the federal law has fostered domestic shipbuilding leading to increased employment and a boost to national security. Jones Act also allows the compensation of sailors who might experience accidents in the line of duty. If this were to happen, I am in support of the repealing part of the law that acts as a burden to the American citizen.

Since its enactment to law, the Jones Act, has hit hardest on the economy of U.S. despite the reforms done on Section 28. The restrictions on vessels made and operated by Americans has led to the variability in the shipping rates. The cost of transporting commodities has risen drastically due to the lack of competition from foreign markets, ultimately leading to an increase in prices of goods (Washington Post, 2010). Shipping industries locally, on the other hand, have increased the costs of the services they offer. The move to raise the prices of the available commodities has seen many citizens seeking for alternative means of importing and transporting their produce from the neighboring countries. The lack of a free market that has move to the states, must settle for higher prices than others due to the difference in the shipping cost. According to The International Trade Commission's 1995 Analysis, the cost incurred during the transportation of goods by these means apart from the sea is also high and impact on the economy of the country. The amount of fuel consumption during transporting goods through road is too expensive when evaluated.

The effect of the Jones Act on the environment has also been felt across the state. The smoke and gases released as a result of traffic have led to the rise in temperatures in a different part of America. Carbon emission has, in the past, contributed to high cost incurred when managing. Additionally, the restriction has led to a loss in the amount of foreign revenue in the U.S. Due to this fact, a lot of bilateral agreements have failed as a result of the Jones Act law which has consequently had an effect on the economy of the U.S (Hoxie, Phillip, Smith & Vincent, 2019). In my opinion, based on the impact the law has on the economy of the country, I feel that the part that restricts the involvement with foreign nations when it comes to trading in the U.S waters should be repealed. I also think that, the Trump administration should embrace capitalism, thus encouraging competition by abolishing the section in the law that restricts foreign vessels from doing business along the American coast.

However, federal law has also served its part in employing many American citizens. On my part, I feel that the fact the law allows ships to be manufactured in the country helps to engage people living in those areas. According to John (2008), the largest shipyard in the state contributes to the most significant work of people. Jones Act should, therefore, retain the section but modify it to incorporate the involvement of the foreign nations in the process.

Additionally, the law allows the compensation of the seaman in case of any injuries or fatalities incurred in the line of duty. The seaman status requires the employee to pay his or her work after three years of the damage. I consider that part of the law should remain when repealing the act. Employer's negligence by taking an unreasonable risk at the cost of the sailor should be dealt with properly per the law. Moreover, by not removing this part of the federal law, accidents on the water will be reduced since, under this law, employers will be liable for any unseaworthy vessels that belong to them. Therefore, the seaman status in the Jones Act will serve to maintain discipline in the sea. For me I consider that these two parts of the law should be kept while the rest be repealed. They will not only create more jobs, but also serve to protect the lives of our seamen by ensuring that any wrong done to them by their employees is brought to judgement.

The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the "Jones Act" has served to squeeze the economy rather than to flourish it. The economic burden has had a toll on the lives of many American, especially in those in coastal areas. The law which was signed a century ago to develop the maritime industry during World War I has outlived its usefulness in today's world. The restriction of foreign interference in the shipping industry has led to different economic problems in the U.S such transport cost, revenue cost and revenue cost which has had a toll on the side of the American citizen.

References

Hoxie, Philip G.; Smith, Vincent H. (2019). The Jones Act in Historical Context. Retrieved from https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1G1-593351968/the-jones-act-in-historical-context

Isaac Shafran (2014). Dry Ports – A Global Perspective: Challenges and Developments in Serving Hinterlands. Journal of the Transportation Research Forum, Vol. 53, No. 1 (Spring 2014), p. 119-122. Transportation Research Forum. http://www.trforum.org/journal

John F. Frittelli (2008). The Jones Act: An Overview. Retrieved from https://apus.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma991002205414305031&context=L&vid=01APUS_INST:01APUS&lang=en&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&adaptor=Local Search Engine &tab=Everything &query=any, contains, the Jones Act &offset

Maritime Issues: Assessment Of The International Trade Commission’s 1995 Analysis Of The Economic Impact Of The Jones Act. (n.d.).

The Jones Act ship law has outlived its usefulness (2010). Washington Post. Retrieved from URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/24/AR2010062405500.html

TRB Special Report: The Marine Transportation System and the Federal Role

URL: http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/sr/sr279.pdf

The United States, C. (1967). Amend section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920: hearing before the Subcommittee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the Committee on Commerce, United States Senate, Ninetieth Congress, first session on S. 292. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/2027/umn.31951p00979962f

United States, C. (1924). To amend section 28 of the Merchant marine act of 1920: Hearings...on H.R. 8091. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/2027/umn.31951d03543592e