Congressional Democrats want answers on Jones Act Waiver

L to R: Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Rick Larsen (D.-Wash.) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.)

About the only things certain about President Trump’s sweeping waiver of the Jones Act is that U.S, maritime is solidly opposed to it, it hasn’t had any perceptible impact on the price of gasoline at the pump, and it’s been extended for another 90 days.

Back in March, law firm K&L Gates LLP noted that foreign vessels may still owe U.S. taxes and need to follow U.S. immigration rules, and pay U.S. minimum wage — and since then no agency has provided guidance.

Now, two House Democratic leaders are looking for some answers and and promising oversight on the foreign vessels entering U.S. trades under the waiver and whether they are complying with U.S. laws and regulations.

On Friday, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Rick Larsen (D.-Wash.) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) wrote to President Trump voicing their concerns Jones Act.

“The Jones Act waiver and its subsequent extension represent a direct threat to the American maritime industry,” they wrote. “America’s Maritime Action Plan (MAP), which you released in February, calls for the increased use of American vessels and American shipyards. The waiver does just the opposite, undermining the MAP and threatening all future investments in the American maritime industry.

“Our Committee intends to provide rigorous oversight of the use of the waiver,” the Ranking Members wrote. “One issue of particular concern is whether vessels acting under the waiver have fully complied with U.S. laws. As you may know, 46 U.S. Code Section 501(a) limits the government’s waiver authority to ‘navigation and vessel-inspection laws.’”

Ranking Members Larsen and Carbajal are requesting the following information from the Trump administration regarding their use of this waiver:

Provide specific information on how each voyage that has been performed under the current waiver has “immediately” addressed military operations. Identify the military operation and how the voyage provided needed relief to that specific military operation.

Provide the market survey, or other mechanism utilized by the DOD or other departments or agencies, to determine that there were “insufficient qualified [U.S.-flag] vessels to meet the needs of national defense without the waiver” for both this waiver and the initial waiver dated March 17, 2026.

Provide a copy of the text of the waiver to this Committee.

Read the whole letter: