Merchant Marine Act of 1920

Merchant Marine Act of 1920

Other short titles	Jones Act
Long title	An act to provide for the promotion and maintenance of the American merchant marine, to repeal certain emergency legislation, and provide for the disposition, regulation, and use of property acquired thereunder, and for other purposes.
Enacted by	the 66th United States Congress
Effective	June 5, 1920
Citations
Public law	Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 66–261
Statutes at Large	41 Stat. 988
Codification
Acts repealed	Emergency Shipping Act, 1917; Rate Emergency Act, 1918; Shipping Act, 1916, § 5, 7, 8;
Legislative history
Introduced in the Senate by Wesley Jones (R–WA) Reported by the joint conference committee on June 4, 1920; agreed to by the House on June 4, 1920 (145–120) and by the Senate on June 4, 1920 (40–11) Signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson on June 5, 1920

The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 is a United States federal statute that provides for the promotion and maintenance of the American merchant marine.^[1] Among other purposes, the law regulates maritime commerce in U.S. waters and between U.S. ports. Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act is known as the Jones Act and deals with cabotage (coastwise trade). It requires that all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried on ships that have been constructed in the United States and that fly the U.S. flag, are owned by U.S. citizens, and are crewed by U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents.^[2][3] The act was introduced by Senator Wesley Jones. The law also defines certain seaman's rights.

The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 has been revised a number of times; the most recent revision in 2006 included recodification in the U.S. Code.^[2]

Many economists and other experts have argued for its repeal,^[4] while military and U.S. Department of Commerce officials have spoken in favor of the law on protectionist grounds.^[5] Opponents of this legislation argue it reduces domestic trade via waterways (relative to other forms of trade) and increases consumer prices.^[6]

The Jones Act is not to be confused with: the Death on the High Seas Act (another U.S. maritime law that does not apply to coastal and in-land navigable waters), or the Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 (which regulates passenger vessels, including cruise ships).